Certainly, Nigeria’s healthcare is not where it should be at 63. What exactly should the President Bola Tinubu administration do to revive and reposition the health sector? In this interview, the President of the World Medical Association, WMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele, and former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm Olumide Akintayo examine the fortunes of the nation’s health sector at 63, while procuring a way forward.
“It is sad that most Nigerians still make out-of-pocket payments for health care services because of poor political commitment and the unsatisfactory coverage level of the National Health Insurance Scheme. My experience as a delegate to the 2014 National Conference reinforces my conviction. How many of the laudable recommendations we made have seen the light of the day? So, a lot depends on the political commitment and sincerity of the leaders of the day. “I would say that what the Tinubu government should be doing is dusting up all previous progressive recommendations for improving Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The Government should ensure Nigeria’s health personnel have safe, decent and enabling working conditions. The Government should put in place competitive wages for physicians and other health professionals as part of measures to retain them in their fatherland.” “The Physician CEOs have oftentimes adopted this very way of life. In terms of new levels, President Tinubu must go into the history books as the first Nigerian leader who will wholeheartedly implement the Basic National Healthcare Provision Fund which is the equivalent of 1 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Consolidated.
“In a similar spirit, we don’t run a broad spectrum PHC system. For our PHC philosophy to thrive we must rejig it holistically by tapping into the potential of Community-based health professions by focusing on their high cross-mobility or is its proximity to the grassroots which makes them the preferred option for healthcare in the roots which accounts for over 80 per cent of our population.