The Lagos State Government and Federal Government have sealed a deal to transfer ownership of Epe General Hospital to the Federal Government.
This milestone was marked with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented the State Government, while Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented the Federal Government.
As part of this agreement, the facility will be renamed the Federal Medical Centre, Epe, and is expected to enhance access to specialized healthcare services.
“The FMC, Epe, will be enhanced by providing specialised care, including paediatric care, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a medical ICU, and advanced surgical care, including open-heart surgeries; advanced obstetric and gynaecological services for high-risk pregnancies, and state-of-the-art emergency and trauma centre,” Gawat explained.
He emphasized that a site had been selected for the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
“This is to take advantage of the new Federal Medical Centre, Epe, where students from FEDCAM will have their clinical postings,” Gawat noted.
The transfer increases the number of Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in the state to two. Prior to the Epe facility, the Federal Government had established the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, which was commissioned on November 23, 1964.
Initially known as the Nigerian Railway Hospital, FMC Ebute-Metta was elevated to a Federal Medical Centre on January 31, 2005.