Shortage of Bed Space at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Leaves Patients in Distress
By Hannatu Suleiman Abba
What should be a place of healing has become a source of distress for many patients at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano. A severe shortage of bed spaces in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit has left patients and their families enduring unimaginable hardships, with some forced to sleep on the cold, hard floor.
Malam Auwalu, a distressed relative, recounted his ordeal: “My daughter, Maryam, was rushed to the hospital unconscious around midnight. There was no bed available for her. If I had the money, I would have taken her to a private clinic. Instead, she had to be treated on an iron bench in the A&E unit. Watching her lie there helpless was heartbreaking.”
Aisha, another patient’s relative, described her experience with her paralyzed grandmother, Hajiya Lami: “We arrived at the emergency unit and were told there were no beds. My grandmother had to be treated while sitting in her wheelchair for hours. It was a painful sight to witness.” Despite the challenges, Aisha praised the doctors for their tireless efforts to provide care under such difficult circumstances.
Overcrowding: A Persistent Problem
Many patients expressed frustration at the overcrowding but admitted they had no alternative. “The Murtala hospital A&E unit is our only hope for immediate medical attention. I would rather be treated on the floor than turned away,” a patient remarked.
Dr. Hussaini Muhammad, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, acknowledged the situation, explaining the factors contributing to the crisis. “The hospital is one of the most affordable and visited healthcare facilities in the state. Many people think every A&E unit should have a bed, but that’s not always the case. The A&E is a temporary holding area before patients are moved to specific wards such as orthopedic, medical, surgical, or ENT units.”
He further elaborated, “Our A&E unit can admit between 30 to 70 medical cases and 50 to 100 accident cases, but we only have 36 beds. The volume of patients seeking treatment here far exceeds our capacity. There is an urgent need to upgrade the wards and recruit more medical personnel to meet the growing demand.”
State Government’s Response
The Kano State Government has recognized the strain on healthcare services and is taking steps to address these challenges. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf recently proposed a budget of N549.16 billion for 2025, allocating 16 percent (N90.6 billion) to the health sector.
The budget includes plans to recruit additional medical personnel, upgrade hospital facilities, and improve service delivery across the state. These measures are expected to alleviate some of the pressures faced by hospitals like Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
While the proposed reforms offer hope, the dire situation at the hospital highlights the urgent need for comprehensive changes to Kano’s healthcare system. For now, patients and their families continue to endure difficult conditions, clinging to the hope that better days lie ahead.
