The Federal Government is to reform and reposition the Nigerian health sector in order to deliver quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
Consequently, it has concluded plans to digitized the nation’s health care system and will roll out a National Electronic Medical Record platform to ensure validated and reliable data that can be used to deliver care to the people.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, said the government is set to mobilize private capital to invest in physical infrastructure, equipment and human resources to restore confidence in the nation’s healthcare system and discourage Nigerians from seeking medical treatment abroad for ailments that can be treated in the country.
He said, “We need to ensure that our hospitals function better so that our people will have confidence in our health system. We need to address the problem of the health workforce that we are losing so that health workers who have left the country can start coming back. We will transform our human resources for health; we will grow the pipeline of medical workers in the country and retain existing talent to limit the effects of emigration.”
Pate noted that if the government improves infrastructure and address the issues affecting the health workers, it will go a long way in stopping the incessant strike in the health sector and some of the health workers who have left the country will come back.
The minister noted that as part of efforts to address the lingering strikes in the health sector, he, along with the Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, met with four of the professional associations and they acknowledged that there was a need to put rancours behind and begin to rebuild trust and restore the respectability of the health profession.
Pate who noted that Nigeria has over 400,000 health workers of different categories, added that doctor ratio to population is below World Health Organization’s requirements. Hence, the a need to train more health workers.
The Minister assured that the government would strengthen the nation’s health security so that when outbreaks happen, they can be dealt with immediately.
He stated that the state governments have a critical role to play in advancing the health sector.
“We need to improve the quality of governance in health so that there will be a way to apprise performance, reduce political interference and strengthen inclusion. Health can be the basis for reunifying this country and improving cohesion.
“We will prioritize equity and be people-oriented in service delivery. We will ensure access to all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable populations.
“Our own mindset will become more people-oriented to ensure that people feel respected and valued. We will unlock value chains and enable the production of medical devices, products and pharmaceuticals within Nigeria for Nigerians; support import substitution goals and ensure these products and services have sustainable markets and can reliably reach our citizens.
“We will ensure health security, ensure Nigeria is prepared and able to effectively respond to outbreaks, pandemics and humanitarian crises.”
Earlier, Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, said that there was a need to overhaul the research centres in the country, adding that the government will create a research fund for the country.
He noted that the rising incidence of communicable diseases would become a big burden to the country if nothing was done urgently
Alausa assured that there would be proper regulation of the health care system so that health facilities can be held accountable.
