Federal Government has emphasised the need to improve the quality of care in healthcare facilities nationwide and improve the experience of patients in hospitals.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, who disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, stressed the need to ensure that patients were treated with courtesy in healthcare facilities.

He said: “We want to improve the quality of care in the hospitals and improve the experience of patients. The whole essence of what we do in the health sector is targeted at improving the health of Nigerians, but if Nigerians visit the hospital and did not get quality care, it is not a good experience, then all the inputs that we are putting in the service will amount to nothing.”

Salako observed that the media was very important in disseminating government policies and programmes to Nigerians, especially in the health sector, in terms of health issues, prevention and improving the health outcomes of patients.

The minister said the strategic plans of the ministry were well spelt out within the health sector renewal investment initiative and the sector-wide approach.

The minister added: “We need more awareness to have optimal results. Issues that happen in our hospitals are brought to our attention through the media, we depend on the media for feedback, we will not only emphasise on physical infrastructure, but the impact being made with the infrastructure and quality of services.”