ATBUTH uncovers patient extortion scam, recovers ₦27,000

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has uncovered and stopped a fraudulent scheme targeting patients, recovering ₦27,000 that was illegally taken from a patient’s relatives.

According to a statement from the hospital’s Public Relations and Protocol Unit, the hospital’s SERVICOM Unit discovered the scam during a routine night surveillance exercise.

The suspect, described as an elderly man, was apprehended after collecting ₦45,000 from the relatives of a patient with a gunshot injury, under false pretences.

The man reportedly demanded ₦5,000 for a “hospital smart card” and ₦40,000 for drugs. However, the statement clarified that hospital smart cards are issued free and the actual cost of the drugs was ₦18,150, meaning ₦27,000 of the money taken was excess and has since been recovered.

The suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

The Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Bara, praised the SERVICOM team for its vigilance and reiterated the hospital’s stance of zero tolerance for extortion, impersonation, and related fraudulent practices.

Hospital management urged patients and the public to remain alert and report any unofficial demands for money to hospital authorities, assuring continued efforts to safeguard transparency and protect patients.