Nigerians have described as worrisome the high recommendation for C-sections for pregnant women by doctors and hospitals.
Describing it as a clandestine scheme to extort unsuspecting pregnant patients and their wards, Nigerians in a series of comments on X on Friday alleged that hospitals more often than not recommend C-sections for pregnant women in a bid to make money.
The C-section, an acronym for Caesarean Section, is the surgical delivery of a baby through a cut made in the birth parent’s abdomen and uterus.
Health providers use it when they believe it is safer for the birth parent, the baby, or both.
However, Nigerians have alleged that in recent times, hospitals and doctors have recommended it in a bid to amass money from patients.
Commenting on the issue, social media critic Daniel Regha mentioned that “a medical practitioner once told me that many C-sections being done in this country are not necessary, but some doctors and hospitals intentionally recommend this as a means to raise money or simply save their own time. We don’t talk about healthcare fraud enough in this country.”
Agreeing with Regha’s statement, Shina Bam mentioned that “back in Lagos, we were told my wife’s narrow pelvis required a C-section for our first, but she later delivered two more naturally in the US.”
Another social media user identified as Omo Iya Pupa stated, “The truth is, the doctors we’ve now practically recommend it for every woman in birth. Imagine a doctor from a general hospital referring a woman in labor to his private hospital, then go there to run the CS. Is that not weird? People are after money now.”
Speaking from “experience,” Kay Murphy alleged that “some doctors and hospitals intentionally recommend this as a means to extort patients.”
Omo Iya Akeem, in his reaction, alleged that some “gynecologists are always opting for c-sections to pocket money and leave people with unnecessary scars.”
He added that there are “so many fraudulent acts in this country” that should be looked into.
Complaining that the cost of the medical procedure is expensive, George Egemuka stated that his “wife gave birth on the first of May in a government hospital here in Lagos. She was the only normal birth; the rest was CS. I almost fainted thinking of what would become of me if CS was recommended.”
“The same thing happened to my sister when she went for a scan at a private hospital. The doctor recommended a C-section, but my mom was against it. We decided she should try a missionary hospital, and lo and behold, her pelvic measurement was okay. My sister eventually gave birth naturally,” Omalicha narrated.
Describing the alleged medical fraud in the country as alarming, Noxy Draze said, “That’s how we went to BMH for surgery for 40k, and the doctor later moved me to a private hospital where we paid 180k. The fraud is alarming now in the medical world in Nigeria.
Jeff George urged the federal government to probe the alleged fraud in the medical profession in the country.
He alleged that many Nigerians lost their lives as a result of the ‘unholy practices’ of hospitals and medical practitioners in the country.
“In all honesty, I think this is a serious thing to be looked into in the medical profession in Nigeria. Healthcare fraud is a big deal in advanced countries because of the superior position that healthcare providers hold against vulnerable and uninformed patients.
“That is why a strong government institution is needed to check and regulate them. Sadly, many Nigerians are perishing with wicked medical practitioners who only care about their purses,” George stated.
