A Nigerian woman identified as Tobi has stirred reactions online after sharing her experience with a private hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, where she alleged she was asked to make an additional payment before her medical test results could be explained.
Tobi, a marketer, said the incident happened at a hospital in Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, where she initially went for a consultation with a gynaecologist.
According to her, she paid ₦23,766 for registration and ₦119,000 for consultation. She also spent about ₦340,000 on medical tests, bringing her total expenses to approximately ₦482,766, excluding transportation.
After waiting nearly a month for the results, she returned to the hospital expecting a full explanation from the specialist. However, she claimed she was told to pay an extra ₦64,000 before the doctor could interpret the results.
“I almost lost it with them! They said it’s the policy,” she said.
Unable to afford the additional fee, Tobi requested that her test results be sent to her via email instead. She described the experience as disappointing, noting that she had already spent a significant amount on her healthcare.
“I’m heartbroken and disappointed,” she added.
Reactions
The story has since sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians weighing in on the situation:
Some users criticized the hospital, arguing that charging extra to explain already paid-for tests is unfair and exploitative. Many emphasized that patients deserve full transparency before undergoing expensive procedures.
Others defended the practice, noting that in some private hospitals, consultation, tests, and result interpretation are billed separately, especially when handled by specialists.
A number of commenters advised Tobi to take her results to another hospital for interpretation, suggesting she might get a more affordable consultation elsewhere.
Some expressed concern about healthcare costs in Nigeria, pointing out how expensive medical care has become, particularly in private facilities.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
