UCTH Chief Medical Director Denies Ethnic Bias in House Officers Recruitment

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has found itself at the center of a controversy surrounding allegations of ethnic bias in the recruitment of house officers. Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, the hospital's Chief Medical Director, has come out to vehemently deny these allegations, stating that the hospital doesn't operate any policy that targets any ethnic group, particularly the Igbos.

Prof. Ikpeme, who was appointed as the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, has a long history of service in the medical field. Before his appointment, he had worked in various capacities, building a reputation as a dedicated and fair-minded medical professional. The controversy surrounding the recruitment of house officers began when some applicants alleged that they were rejected because of their ethnic background. However, Prof.

Ikpeme insists that this isn't true and that the hospital's recruitment process is based strictly on merit and due process.

Prof. Ikpeme said, "We didn't reject house officers because they were Igbo. This isn't the policy of the hospital and it's not something we do," during a facility tour of the hospital by journalists. He also expressed regret over the controversy, noting that the affected applicants never met with him before taking the matter to social media. To support his claim, Prof. Ikpeme highlighted recent gestures affirming the hospital's inclusiveness, including the naming of a ward after an Igbo medical practitioner in recognition of his long service and contributions to the institution.

The hospital, which operates about 38 wards and clinics across its 62 clinical and non-clinical departments, has undergone significant transformations under Prof. Ikpeme's leadership. Most facilities have been remodelled or renovated, and the hospital now performs advanced procedures such as hip and knee replacements, brain tumour surgeries, spinal surgeries, and minimally invasive keyhole surgeries. The hospital's current Head of Nursing Services is also of Igbo extraction, which Prof. Ikpeme cites as evidence of the hospital's commitment to inclusivity.

Prof. Ikpeme also revealed that the hospital serves patients not only from Cross River but also from neighbouring states and countries, including Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The facility, which has an 850 bed capacity, caters for over five million patients. On staff attitude and emergency care, he said management has introduced a reward and disciplinary system to enhance professionalism. He denied claims that emergency patients are turned back for lack of funds, stating that they don't insist on payment before treatment for emergencies.

The hospital has received support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and the Federal Ministry of Health, including the installation of a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine and other infrastructure upgrades running into billions of naira. A new Department of Emergency Medicine is under construction to handle the rising patient influx. The facility will feature trauma bays, intensive care units, and emergency theatres.

The denial of ethnic bias by Prof. Ikpeme comes as a relief to many, who had begun to question the hospital's recruitment processes. As the hospital continues to grow and expand its services, it's essential that it maintains a reputation for fairness and inclusivity. The hospital's commitment to providing quality healthcare to all patients, regardless of their ethnic background, is a testament to its dedication to its mission. It's clear that the hospital won't compromise on its values of fairness and inclusivity, and it won't turn patients away due to their ethnic background or financial situation.