Woman dies after hospital rejects bank transfer for oxygen

A pregnant woman, identified as Aisha Najamu, has died at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital in Katsina State after a health worker allegedly refused to accept a bank transfer for oxygen payment, insisting on cash.

The incident occurred on Monday night when the woman, who arrived at the hospital in critical condition, required immediate oxygen support.

An eyewitness said the cashier on duty declined to process the payment because the patient had no cash, citing an internal rule that prohibits transfers.

A man who tried to intervene reportedly pleaded with the cashier to accept a bank transfer so treatment could begin.

Despite the urgency, the cashier maintained that hospital policy strictly forbade transfers and must be adhered to.

The eyewitness said he even offered to pay extra and later presented a $100 bill out of desperation, but the cashier still refused to accept any form of payment other than cash.

He described the scene as heartbreaking, noting that the woman cried for help until she died at about 11:30 p.m.

When contacted, the hospital management said they had not yet received an official complaint about the incident.

Cashier Aminu Kofar-Bai, speaking on behalf of the hospital, expressed condolences to the family and promised that management would investigate and sanction any staff member found negligent.

Hospital officials, however, defended their payment policy, explaining that Katsina State’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) guidelines prohibit staff from receiving transfers into personal accounts.

They added that the facility currently has no POS machines and therefore accepts only cash payments.