By Abasi Ita
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital has assured the public that the 17 House Officers recently posted to the institution are safe and not exposed to any form of danger.
In a statement issued by the hospital management, UCTH emphasized that the welfare and safety of the House Officers remain a priority, noting that none of them has been subjected to harm or unsafe working conditions since resuming duties.
The management disclosed that it has written to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as other relevant authorities, seeking guidance on administrative and regulatory matters relating to the posting and clearance of the House Officers.
In a related development, the hospital has petitioned the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria over alleged posting racketeering. The petition, dated January 9, 2026, accused some elements within the council of facilitating illegal payments from prospective House Officers seeking placement in preferred institutions, including UCTH.
According to the petition, the alleged scheme involves the use of proxy platforms through which young doctors are required to pay between N250,000 and N300,000 to secure postings. The petition was addressed to the Registrar of the MDCN with reference number UCTH DCMAC 270 and was signed by the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Training and Research, Dr Felix Archibong.
The hospital alleged that the group, operating under the name Doclumina Networking, approaches young doctors and demands payment in exchange for providing privileged access to the MDCN posting portal.
It further claimed that once a certain number of candidates have paid, the group notifies them of the specific date and time the portal would be opened exclusively for their use, allowing them to complete the process ahead of other qualified applicants.
UCTH noted that complaints over the alleged practice have been recurring among young doctors in Calabar and its environs. While acknowledging that the allegations may be difficult to establish conclusively, the hospital expressed concern over what it described as apparent irregularities in the posting process.
The management questioned why posting portals are not opened simultaneously for all eligible candidates within a batch and raised concerns over patterns suggesting unequal access to the system.
To address the issue, UCTH recommended a review of the MDCN posting process, including changes to personnel responsible for managing the portal and the introduction of centralized control measures to enhance transparency and restore confidence among young doctors nationwide.
Responding to reports questioning the safety of the House Officers, the hospital clarified that the issues being discussed are strictly administrative and relate to posting and clearance procedures.
The management reiterated that all House Officers currently at UCTH are safe and working in a secure and professional environment. It appealed to all stakeholders to remain calm and patient as discussions with the relevant authorities continue.
UCTH reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, fairness, and the welfare of health workers and trainees, assuring that further updates would be communicated through official channels when necessary.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Ikpeme Ikpeme, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls placed to his phone.