How to ensure efficient care delivery, by Sanwo-Olu

To transform healthcare in Nigeria, government, non-governmental organizations, individuals, development partners and all other stakeholders have been tasked to join hands together to ensure an effective healthcare delivery system in the country. Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, made the remark at Healthcare Nigeria Conference held at the Orient Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

Speaking at the event with the theme “Healthcare in Nigeria – Transformative Solutions,” the governor’s wife said accessibility to good healthcare is considered a fundamental human right of every citizen. She said: “We can not undermine the importance of good healthcare to the development of any nation. Health is wealth, it is only a man that is healthy that can think, innovate and work effectively.

“A bad healthy system kills talents, innovation and precious lives. We cannot be serious about developing our economy without according consideration to a better healthcare system.

“As a responsible custodian of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, we must ensure excellent strength is accorded to healthcare,” Sanwo-Olu stated that hospitals must be equipped with required drugs and effective laboratories for proper diagnosis while continuous training of the medical professional must emphasize. She also stressed the importance of information technology to healthcare saying digital skills must be applied in the delivery of healthcare services.

“The world is now talking about telemedicine and telehealth which allows patients and doctors to communicate at a remote distance. It will reduce travel time as well as pressure on our doctors. One of the guest speakers, Mr. Akinwande Ademosu condemned the damage medical tourism is doing to the development of the sector noting that N40billion is lost annually to the leakage.

“The country cannot continue to do things the way they have done. We have to start thinking new approach if we want to get a result,. We must be willing to do the right thing if we want healthcare inclusion to take root in this country,” he said.

In his welcome address, Chief Executive Officer, Hygeia HMO, Obinnia Abajue said the focus of the conference is underscored by the annual selection of a condition or disease, the management of which is of critical national attention to showcase what is going on to trigger to addressing the shortfall in the care and support systems.

He said the most important aspect of the healthcare value chain is money. “To be honest, it is all about the money, who holds it, how it is shared and how much goes to whom. Without this clarity, it is hard to have a sector; our talent will continue to leave.”
Speaking on healthcare support for a rural areas, Abajue said part of what the society must do to be sure that they are not allocating resources to people who can afford to pay for themselves, saying it should be for those who can not afford to pay.

“The world has accepted that health insurance is the way to achieve universal health coverage because every other alternative fails the sustainability test.”

At the event, organizers made a live demo presentation of the Healthconnect and Tremendoc app, which are digital tools for getting medical opinion and expertise across distance. Some of the panelists at the conference include Country Medical Director, Nestle, Dr. Ajibabi Awosika, Co-founder, AIICO Multishield, Dr. Leke Oshunniyi and Divisional Director, Axa Mansard, Rashidat Adebisi.