With the ground that was once occupied by the new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri having been upgraded to the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Teaching Hospital in Owerri, the FMC has since moved to Okigwe.
The move has been described as another form of commitment to transforming healthcare by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, by leveraging its connections with the Federal Government.
Recall that the recent relocation of FMC services from Owerri to Okigwe was necessitated by the upgrading of the former facility to the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Teaching Hospital in Owerri after FUTO, a specialised engineering and technology university, got approval to be offering medical courses.
Analysts say the relocation and upgrade of the former site has completely caused a paradigm shift, as it has transformed the healthcare landscape of Imo State with the official activation of clinical services at the new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Okigwe.
Drum Africa gathered from a press statement released by the management of the hospital that the commencement of speciality clinics begins this March 2026.
The statement reads that the new schedule of speciality clinics is designed to provide comprehensive and specialised care to residents of Okigwe and its surrounding communities.
The weekly lineup is as follows:
Tuesdays: Surgery
· Wednesdays: Paediatrics
· Thursdays: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
· Fridays: Specialist Physician Clinics
Eze Ugochukwu, Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Public Communication, said that this rollout of medical activity marks the fruition of a process spearheaded by Governor Hope Uzodimma aimed at upgrading the old General Hospital Okigwe to a full-fledged Federal Medical Centre.
He said that with the recent completion of necessary upgrades and transition, the facility is now poised to serve as a major tertiary health hub for the area.
Ugochukwu said that following the transition, the facility in Okigwe will now operate under the established federal medical centre administrative structure.
“FMC Okigwe represents a strategic decentralisation of federal healthcare assets in Imo State, courtesy of the push by the Uzodimma administration at the federal level.
“The centre is now positioned to reduce the pressure on other tertiary hospitals in the zone by bringing specialised care closer to the people in the Okigwe senatorial zone and providing specialist services:
“With the newly announced clinic schedule, residents will now have regular access to surgeons, paediatricians, obstetricians, and internal medicine specialists.”
He said that the establishment of a federal medical centre is expected to create jobs and stimulate economic activities in Okigwe town.
“The commencement of these speciality clinics confirms that the facility is now functionally operational, delivering on the promise of upgraded and accessible healthcare for the people of Imo State.”
