From Our Correspondent
Prof. Ali Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says the Federal Government would prioritise investment in health and infrastructures in tertiary hospitals.
Pate emphasised that this is to ensure Nigerians have better quality health care.
Pate announced this at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria (CCMDFTH) in Abuja.
TheNewsZenith reports that the theme of the meeting was: “Sustaining Quality Tertiary Health Care Delivery in a Challenging Economy”.
The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada (UATH) hosted the AGM.
“The health sector gets almost five per cent of the budget. So, there is a deliberate effort to increase domestic financing on the part of the government.
“Although we are not near the 15 per cent commitment, it signals the President’s intention to ensure the health of Nigerians is improved.
“Tertiary institutions healthcare is the cornerstone in revamping the Nigerian healthcare sector. And we have to focus on them as a pillar of our agenda.
“In the six geopolitical zones, we will improve the infrastructure in the tertiary teaching hospitals.
“You will see that in the details of the budget, that the President is committed to expanding the health infrastructure and equipment for cancer care and diagnosis,” the minister assured.
Pate also said the federal government would focus on intervening in substantive investments in phases. This is to solve the problems in the hospitals.
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Hospitals, he noted, should not look like dump sites. This situation deprives Nigeria of an estimated $2 billion yearly to outward-bound medical tourism.
“That is more than twice the entirety of the health sector budget at different levels. Why?
“Because folks that are spending outside do not feel they will get what they need inside,” Pate said.
He said human resources was a very active one, adding that there was the need to prioritise internship, get youths onboard to get the best quality human resources.
Also, Pate noted, there is a need to address brain drain with slight adjustments domestically. We should pay attention to the skills that are needed.
Guest Speaker, Prof. Abdulmumini Rafindadi, said delivery of quality healthcare was essential for promoting health and well-being in communities.
The lecture is titled “Sustaining Quality Tertiary Health Care Delivery in a Challenging Economy,”.
Rafindadi said quality healthcare required a multi-faceted approach to ensure access to affordable and effective healthcare services for all.
“I, therefore, call on CMDs and MDs to introduce a significant health information management system in their institutions as this would help to raise the standard of services,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of UATH, Prof. Bissallah Ekele said the meeting was a way of exchanging experience on challenges and preferred solutions to strengthen tertiary hospitals.
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