The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has increased its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission deposit from N500,000 to N1 million, prompting reactions from residents in Edo State.

The increase, representing a 100 per cent hike in critical care costs, was outlined in an internal memorandum from the office of the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), dated January 30, 2026. The memo approved a review of ward consumables and admission deposits across the hospital.

Other revised admission deposits include: N150,000 for medical wards, N200,000 for private wards, N100,000 for day-case admissions, N150,000 for orthopaedic wards, N200,000 for neuro wards, and N150,000 for obstetrics and gynaecology wards.

Ward consumables were also adjusted, with patients in the Labour and Emergency Complex now required to pay N20,000 per week, while ordinary wards will attract N15,000 per week.

According to the memo, the review was necessary due to current funding realities and aims to promote efficiency, reduce waste, and improve the maintenance and procurement of medical consumables. Under the new structure, ICU admission now requires a deposit of N1 million, while the Labour Ward Complex deposit has been set at N200,000. The adjustments are intended to ensure sustainable hospital operations and enhance service delivery.

The development has drawn criticism from residents, many of whom expressed concerns on social media about the steep increase in hospital charges and the reported privatization of laboratory services at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit.

In response, UBTH’s Head of Public Relations and Information, Osaretin Iyen, clarified that the private laboratory service at the A&E unit was introduced to complement, not replace, the hospital’s existing diagnostic facilities. He noted that UBTH currently operates more than ten functional laboratories.

Iyen emphasized that the decision prioritizes patient care and safety, particularly for critically ill patients who require immediate and uninterrupted access to laboratory investigations, especially in situations where the hospital’s A&E laboratory faces challenges.