**UBTH's Double Your Medical Bill Move Sparks Outrage in Edo State** Nigerians are talking about the latest move by the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to rake in more dough from patients. The management of the hospital has more than doubled the admission deposit for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from N500,000 to a whopping N1 million. This decision has sent shockwaves across the state, with many residents expressing outrage and disappointment on social media. In a bid to "promote efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance the maintenance and procurement of medical consumables," the hospital management has also increased the cost of ward consumables and admission deposits for other wards. Patients in the Labour and Emergency Complex will now pay N20,000 per week, while those in ordinary wards will cough up N15,000 per week. This is on top of the increased admission deposits for private wards, orthopaedic wards, neuro wards, obstetrics and gynaecology wards, and day-case admissions. But what's got people talking is the astronomical increase in hospital charges. Many are wondering how an average Nigerian can afford such exorbitant fees, especially when they're already struggling to access quality healthcare. The hospital's decision has sparked concerns that UBTH is slowly privatizing its services, with the introduction of private laboratory services at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit. According to the hospital's Public Relations and Information Unit, the private laboratory service was introduced to complement the hospital's existing diagnostic services and to augment capacity and efficiency. However, many are skeptical about the motives behind this move, with some accusing the hospital of prioritizing profits over patient care. The implications of this move are far-reaching. At a time when many Nigerians are already struggling to access quality healthcare, the increased fees will only serve to push more people into poverty. It's time for the hospital management to rethink their priorities and put the needs of patients first. **As things stand, it remains to be seen how this move will affect the hospital's reputation and the morale of its staff. One thing is certain, however: the decision has sparked a heated debate about the future of healthcare in Nigeria. Will UBTH's management listen to the concerns of its patients and rethink their strategy, or will they continue to prioritize profits over people? Only time will tell.**