President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s zeal to revitalize the healthcare sector and ensure quality Universal Health Coverage. He urged professional bodies in the sector to support the government in achieving this goal.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Assistant Media & External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, on Wednesday.
While advocating for support of the executives of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), led by its National President, Professor Bala Mohammed Audu, during their courtesy visit, he highlighted his government’s strategic initiatives aimed at addressing critical challenges, such as increasing training quotas for healthcare pre-service training, streamlining recruitment procedures for health professionals, and implementing policies to retain healthcare workers.
Represented by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, during the visit, the President said efforts are underway to enhance health infrastructure, expand diagnostics and cancer care facilities, and strengthen primary care in collaboration with State Governments.
Additionally, the government is working on expanding access to healthcare for vulnerable groups through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIA).
“Mr. President remains deeply committed to advancing healthcare with a respectful and dignified work environment for the (county’s) health workforce, Prof. Pate was quoted in the statement.
“We understand the challenges that remain and are focused on improving the quality of healthcare services for Nigerians. We appreciate all health workers who are striving despite the obvious challenges we are facing as a country.
“However, the challenges are not insurmountable, as long as we keep the interest of Nigerians at heart and approach each other constructively”, he stated.
The statement also said Prof. Bala Mohammed Audu, President of the NMA is in support of the ongoing reforms within the health sector, particularly emphasizing the sector-wide approach aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery across the country.
“We fully support Mr, President’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) to improving quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria and in providing Universal Health Coverage with the target of improving our population health indices”, he was quoted.
He urged the attention of President Tinubu to request for the full implementation of the following healthcare-related policies that he described as innovative and initiated by the President’s administration – doubling the carrying capacity for training of the health workforce; national policy on healthcare workforce retention, and health facility regulation.
He said the NMA is encouraged to work with the government to effectively implement these policies for the growth of the Nigerian health sector.
“We are convinced that this government is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian receives the best quality healthcare that is patient-centered and respectable, with no undue financial hardship”, he said.