Lagos transfers Epe General Hospital to FG for upgrade to Federal Medical Centre

The Lagos State Government has transferred the Epe General Hospital to the Federal Government for conversion and upgrade to a tertiary health facility.

The hospital is now to be known as Federal Medical Centre, Epe.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) facilitating the new status of the hospital was signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa on Thursday during the maiden Lagos Trauma Conference organised by the state Ministry of Health on Victoria Island.

The hospital’s upgrade followed a request by the governor to the Federal Government to establish an advanced health care infrastructure within Epe Division of the State in order to cater to the expanding population within the area and adjoining communities.

A statement by the government said, “The development will further enhance access to specialised care services in the area, while improving on the collective health care capacity provided by the national and sub national governments in the state.

“In addition to upgrading the General Hospital, the MoU also provides for the establishment of the School of Nursing at the FMC for the training of Nurses and Midwives. The first set of students are expected to be admitted next year.

“Within the first two years of the FMC’s take-off, specialised care services to be integrated into the hospital’s services include Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Open Heart Surgery Unit, Cardiac Catheterisation, Advanced Obstetric and Gynaecological services for high risk pregnancies and gynaecology cases, Emergency and Trauma Centre, nephrology services including dialysis and kidney transplant, radiological services, orthopaedic care, Burns and Plastic Services.

“Besides, the new collaboration between Lagos and the Federal Government provides for the establishment of Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) — a new specialised training institution in Ilara Igboye, Epe Division.

“The college will offer specialised programmes that include Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Chiropractic Medicine, Osteopathy and Herbal Medicine.”

Sanwo-Olu described the stride as a game changer that would shape the future of health delivery in Lagos, noting that the development further demonstrated the power of healthy collaboration between state and federal governments.

The Minister said the establishment of nursing school and FEDCAM would offer young people opportunities to undertake the programmes and become professionals in medical disciplines and fields of complementary and alternative medicine.

Alausa said, “The establishment of this Federal Medical Centre in Epe is poised to bring not only improved health outcomes but also numerous socio- economic benefits to the area. It will stimulate local businesses, create employment opportunities for our people, and attract a wide range of healthcare professionals to Epe, thereby enriching the local economy and enhancing the well-being of the residents.”