For the past five years, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi-Araba, the largest tertiary healthcare institution in Lagos, has operated without a functional Computed Tomography (CT) scan machine. This has severely impacted patient care, particularly for those requiring critical diagnostic imaging, forcing them to seek services in private facilities outside the hospital. The situation has also raised concerns about the quality of medical Education for students who rely on the teaching hospital for practical training. Without access to the working machine, students may not receive the hands-on experience required for their education and training.
Since the machine broke down, patients needing imaging services have been given referral letters to undergo the process at private diagnostic centres before returning to the medical centre for further treatment. Speaking with the PUNCH correspondent, a staff member at the Radiology Department disclosed that the machine had been under repair for an extended period. The cost of repairing the broken equipment is reportedly enormous, leading to delays in resolving the issue. The hospital management has acknowledged that repairing the machine would cost hundreds of millions of naira, prompting a decision to invest in a replacement rather than continue repairs.
Other teaching hospitals offer scan services through private partnerships.
A survey of other major teaching hospitals in Lagos revealed that the health institution is not alone in its struggle with imaging equipment. The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba also does not have this machine, though its services rarely require one. However, other institutions, such as the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, and the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, have functional scan machines. Interestingly, at LASUTH and NOHIL, the services are managed by private operators, reflecting a growing trend where government hospitals outsource essential diagnostic services to private companies.
This arrangement ensures patients can access scans without relying on government funding for maintenance and upgrades. The institution’s leadership has hinted at a similar plan, indicating that a new machine will be installed soon through a partnership. In 2013, they acquired a 128-slice Aquilion scanner, a machine that was, at the time, the first of its kind in West Africa. This advanced machine could examine all body organs within seconds, offering deeper imaging penetration and improved diagnostic capabilities. Medical professionals praised the equipment for enhancing treatment planning and emergency care.
Medical experts emphasised the impact of the scan machine.
Despite these early advancements, the machine has been non-functional for the past five years, leading to growing frustration among healthcare professionals and patients alike. Without access to an in-house scan facility, doctors face delays in diagnosing conditions such as strokes, tumours, fractures, and internal bleeding—ailments where timely imaging is crucial for patient survival and effective treatment. The absence of a functional machine has strained patient care. Experts in the medical field have emphasised the crucial role of facilities in ensuring diagnostic accuracy and proper treatment planning.
Without this tool, Healthcare Providers cannot make precise diagnoses, leading to delays in patient management and potential misdiagnoses. Beyond diagnosis, the facility guides surgeries and monitors disease progression. However, the lack of immediate access to this imaging service has forced emergency cases to be transferred to other facilities, increasing the risk for patients who require urgent intervention. This situation has also heightened concerns about patient safety, as critically ill individuals must endure the added stress of travelling to other locations for scans before receiving treatment.
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Nevertheless, the hospital’s management has assured that a new scanner machine will be installed within the next month. The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, confirmed that the hospital had opted for a complete replacement rather than attempting to repair the old machine. Renovations are currently underway to prepare for the arrival of the new equipment. Adeyemo also revealed that arrangements have been made with a sister institution in Lagos to handle their scan patients in the interim. Under this agreement, inpatients requiring urgent imaging are transported via ambulance to the partnered facility, where a nurse accompanies them to ensure their safety throughout the process.