Lagos State Government Clarifies Widespread Media Reports Of Spending N1M On Each COVID-19 Patient Daily.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, has clarified the widespread media reports on Lagos State Government spending N1 Million on each COVID-19 patient daily.

In a statement on Friday, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso stated, “On Thursday July 23, 2020, Lagos State Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, addressed a press conference at which he spoke on several facets of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the conference, he took questions”.

“It has become evident from the subsequent reporting of the commissioner’s comments and I’m aware that there are misunderstandings that require clarification and correction.”

He continued, The commissioner, in the interest of transparency, offered a window onto the economics of COVID-19 care and, regrettably, some reporters misunderstood his comments.”

“While we commend the role of the press in probing into the application of public funds, we look up to them to be balanced and accurate in their reporting”.

“It is clear that N1,000,000 sounds more sensational than N100,000, but we must not allow sincerity to be sacrificed on the altar of sensationalism.

“What the Commissioner sought to communicate was the range of symptom manifestations of the Corona virus, from mild and moderate to severe and critical.

“He explained that the cost of treating these manifestations vary, considerably. In summary, he said this about the cost of COVID-19 care”.

“Every case is different and it is very difficult to calculate exactly how much managing a COVID-19 patient would cost, but what is clear to us is that when you add up the expenses of maintaining the facility, infrastructure, human resources, feeding and consumables, it costs the government approximately N100,000 per day for a non-complicated COVID-19 admission.”

“The commissioner gave an indication of the considerations factored into the costing of intensive care, including ventilation, dialysis, intravenous antibiotics, oxygen and other high and intensive care requirements, depending on the complications of the case.”

“He went on to estimate the cost of intensive care, which usually requires a longer period of admission, and may range between N500,000 to N1,000,000 per day.”

“Unfortunately, certain sections of the press chose to latch on to the figure of N1,000,000 and disregarded the painstaking context that had been provided by Prof. Abayomi.”

“That figure was the upper end of a band and, just as importantly, it applied to no more than 200 out of 2,490 admissions, majority of whom recovered.”

“That means the balance of 2,290 non complicated admissions each cost around N100,000 per day.”