The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), in partnership with Patricare Hospital, has launched a groundbreaking project to construct a premium hotel within its premises. This initiative, under a public-private partnership (PPP), aims to provide quality accommodations for patients, their families, and medical staff on-call, while enhancing the hospital’s healthcare delivery. The ceremony underscored the management’s dedication to improving healthcare accessibility, addressing a significant gap in the South-South region of Nigeria.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), previously completed an Amenity Ward Complex at UPTH in 2021 to mitigate challenges related to medical tourism. This ward, designed to offer world-class healthcare in a premium environment, serves as the foundation for the hotel project. The hotel will complement existing facilities by providing comfortable accommodations close to the hospital.

The event began with a guided tour of the CBN Amenity Ward, led by Chief Medical Director (CMD) Professor Henry A. Ugboma, hospital management, and the Patricare team. Attendees then moved to the hotel construction site for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and the laying of the foundation block by Professor Ugboma. The occasion was attended by dignitaries, senior management from UPTH, and representatives from Patricare.

In her remarks, Patricare’s Head of Corporate Services, Lyza Adiukwu, elaborated on the project’s vision to offer affordable yet premium accommodations. The hotel will feature 63 rooms, including suites, a 400-seater conference hall, an 80-seater restaurant, laundry and kitchen facilities, a swimming pool, and wheelchair-accessible elevators. It will cater to diverse needs, providing both budget-friendly and executive lodging options, ensuring a comfortable environment for patients, families, and healthcare workers.

The project will operate under a “manage, operate, and transfer” PPP model, with Patricare managing the facility before transferring ownership to UPTH. Operations are scheduled to begin between June and July 2025. The CMD expressed gratitude to the CBN and Patricare for their contributions, emphasizing the project’s role in improving healthcare and patient experience. This initiative marks a transformative step in UPTH’s commitment to combining world-class medical care with premium accommodations, setting a benchmark for healthcare services in the region.

𝑶𝒏𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑶𝒌𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒐/𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝑫𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔/𝑶𝑶𝑨