FG to improve tertiary healthcare services

The Federal Government plans to strengthen the tertiary healthcare system to curtail Nigerians’ frequent travel abroad to seek critical care services like kidney transplantation.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, who disclosed this during a familiarisation visit and commissioning of the ultramodern clinical services building and ward extension complex at the Federal Medical Centre, in Abuja, said the new services are part of the government’s efforts to make dialysis care more affordable.

According to him, the government has commenced an initiative to bring down the cost of dialysis by about 80 per cent in ten selected federal tertiary health institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“FMC, Jabi is a good candidate for implementing this initiative and is expected to unlock the value chain of the healthcare sector agenda. Others are removing tariffs on pharmaceuticals and critical inputs in the sector and expanding the National Health Insurance coverage and addressing affordability challenges around healthcare services.’

He said that the ongoing digitalisation processes in the tertiary healthcare institutions through the Nigeria Digital in-Health (NDHi) will be used to leverage digital technology for better feedback from patients and emphasised the need to ensure quality care in facilities.

Salako, who highlighted the centre’s need to maintain professionalism and clinical competence, stated that buildings and equipment alone cannot deliver quality healthcare without a responsible, responsive and well-trained staff.

He said the government will be paying more attention to the quality of care and patients’ experience when they visit facilities rather than the sophistication of equipment and infrastructure, adding that the rejuvenated National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee will ensure standards in tertiary facilities (private and public) in the country.

The minister noted that the project features a 64-bed facility that includes private, semi-private rooms, and open wards designed to alleviate the challenge of inadequate bed space in the hospital.

The new three-storey building is also equipped with a dedicated renal unit with 18 hemodialysis beds and infrastructure. He said, “The provision of effective, qualitative and accessible healthcare is the second pillar of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative designed to treat healthcare as an urgent matter of right for all Nigerians.

Salako noted that his decision to visit the hospital during his familiarisation tour reflects the strategic importance of the facility to the tertiary healthcare agenda of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

He urged the management and staff to always prioritise the patient and deliver high-quality services.

Salako also appealed to the management to keep the new buildings and equipment well maintained and ensure optimal return on the investment, while assuring them of the ministry’s continued support through the right policy and mobilisation of resources.