Federal Government has approved a procurement waiver to accelerate the acquisition of medical equipment across federal tertiary hospitals, a move expected to significantly enhance healthcare delivery nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Kachollom S. Daju, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection tour of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos, one of the country’s newest federal specialist health institutions.
According to her, the waiver—granted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation—applies to all federal tertiary hospitals, including the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos. She explained that the approval is intended to eliminate bureaucratic delays that have hindered the timely procurement of critical medical equipment.
Mrs Daju noted that funding constraints in 2025 had affected the pace of equipment procurement and infrastructure expansion in some facilities, stressing that the challenges were not peculiar to the health sector alone. However, she assured that the Federal Government was taking steps to reposition the sector for improved performance in 2026.
“We have had an unusual year in 2025, particularly in terms of funding, which affected our ability to procure equipment as quickly as we would have wanted. But we are looking forward to 2026, when better equipment, more personnel and improved services will be delivered across our federal tertiary hospitals,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary added that the approved waiver would play a critical role in strengthening service delivery and improving health outcomes, as hospitals would now be able to access essential medical equipment more efficiently.
Speaking specifically on the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos, Mrs Daju said the facility was already offering specialised trauma and orthopaedic services, including surgeries, skin grafting, hip replacements and prosthetic care, despite operating with limited resources.
She described the hospital as a key referral centre strategically positioned to serve Plateau State as well as neighbouring states within the North-Central zone and beyond.
Mrs Daju also commended the hospital’s management, led by the Medical Director, Professor Onche, for the progress recorded so far, noting that visible improvements had been achieved since her previous visit.
She further acknowledged the support of the Plateau State Government, particularly Governor Caleb Mutfwang, for collaborating with the Federal Government and providing assistance in critical aspects of the hospital’s development.
While inspecting facilities within the hospital, including the laboratory, the Permanent Secretary observed that although services were currently functional, further upgrades would be undertaken as the hospital moved towards full operational capacity.
“The laboratory is working, but there is room for improvement. What we have now is temporary. As we become fully operational, the difference will be very clear,” she stated.
Mrs Daju reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing challenges in the health sector, stressing that while constraints would always exist, the focus remained on improving service delivery, strengthening institutions and saving lives.
It would be recalled that the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos, commenced phased clinical operations earlier this year under the leadership of its Medical Director, Professor Onche. Since then, the facility has continued to expand its services, providing specialist orthopaedic and trauma care to patients across the North-Central zone and neighbouring states.
