A former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos College Educating Hospital (LUTH), Professor Akin Osibogun, has mentioned advancing the well being of Nigerians within the twenty first Century would require inter-sectoral collaboration to deal with the social determinants of well being and guarantee a resilient and sustainable well being system.
Osibogun, who spoke on the Medical Guild Lagos 2023 Scientific Convention on Optimising Well being Companies for Nigerians within the twenty first Century, declared that with out addressing the problems of availability, accessibility, high quality and relevance, Nigeria will fail to advance the well being of its residents.
Professor Osibogun said that the inconsistency in adopting medical know-how like open coronary heart surgical procedure, kidney transplants and stem cell transplantation to remedy sickle cell illness and make life higher for citizen sufferers is barely testimony of Nigeria’s un-seriousness as a nation.
The don declared that the principle problem to the supply of high quality well being providers in Nigeria stays the extent of financing and the inefficient use of sources, saying complete well being expenditure per capita in Nigeria is a meagre $97 in comparison with roughly $4,000 in Europe and $8,500 in america.
“The primary duty of presidency is to make sure the supply of well being providers. That availability might be promoted by means of public or non-public means.
“From our nationwide expertise, authorities forms and inefficiencies make high quality supply of providers usually tough. The way forward for high quality supply of providers is basically in non-public provision and authorities regulation of providers.
“Financing availability would require investments in well being infrastructure, gear, prescription drugs and consumables, in addition to the pre-service and in-service growth of human capital. Availability addresses the provision facet of the issue.
“An built-in well being service for Nigerians will incorporate examined components of conventional medication with orthodox medication; it is going to guarantee a agency handshake between all ranges of the healthcare system; it is going to recognise and admire the complementary function of each the private and non-private well being sectors.
“Allow us to strengthen the non-public sector by means of entry to single-digit loans, tax holidays, and comparable coverage instruments; allow us to enhance on our investments within the growth and retention of human capital for well being; allow us to assure efficient demand for well being by means of a compulsory medical health insurance agenda; and we are going to see the cycle flip in favour of improved well being for Nigerians.”