Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has called on the Guild of Medical Directors to be actively involved in Nigeria’s health reforms.
Dr. Ehanire who spoke at the inaugural leadership and business summit of the guild which held in Abuja, said there was important to establish an effective communication link between the Federal Ministry of Health and the guild as key providers of health care in the country.
Excerpts:
“Although the Federal Ministry of Health as the policy-making body, may not directly offer financial aid to private medical facilities, there needs to be a permanent and continuous communication link between the FMOH and the GMD, as key stakeholders in Health care delivery in Nigeria.
“In order for the NHIS (now NHIA) to be successful, the key providers of health care need to be effectively involved with the operational guidelines of such Health Insurance.
“The FMOH should engage the private sector by encouraging the aforementioned innovative services and by being the greatest advocate of the GMD to lead to the reversal of medical tourism.”
The health minister also urged the Federal Government to reconsider the issue of leasing out facilities to the private sector to manage in the Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
He further encouraged the guild to put in efforts towards ensuring sustainable collaborations and networks to draw attention to the needs of the health system, in order to attract funding in and outside the country.
Weighing in on the matter, Dr Kuti noted that in achieving a Universal Health Coverage, the guild must be actively engaged as key actors and team players in the health care reform in Nigeria.
“The Guild of Medical Directors as Owners and Proprietors of Private Medical Facilities in Nigeria are key stakeholders in the Healthcare Industry in Nigeria since it is well known that private facilities undertake up to 70 percent of the healthcare needs of the country.
“Many innovative strides have been taken and are being taken daily in the medical field in Nigeria and more so in the private health sector.
“In order to attain Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria, private medical facilities and their management represented by the Guild of Medical Directors must be active team players as we look to Health Care Reform in the country,” he said.
Over the years, Nigerian doctors have constantly registered their dissatisfaction with the federal government over poor renumeration and welfare of workers.