FG to partner with states, LGAs on health sector reforms

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Wednesday, said plans were underway to partner with states and local governments to take health sector reforms to the grassroots.

Information about the plan is contained in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boade Akinola in Abuja.

Akinola quoted the minister as saying the plan followed the summit of international and local NGOs in Abuja.

The director also quoted the minister as saying that the reforms were aimed at improving health facilities and welfare of health workers, as well as the health conditions of the poor in the society.

Adewole said “the ministry will put up structures that will enable it to plan for short, medium and long term; this summit will enable NGOs to key into the plan.

“The plan is achievable by working together as a team in terms of having common objectives.

“The ministry will be accountable and there will be no bureaucratic bottleneck in its dealings.’’

He explained that the process would be driven through Public Private Partnership (PPP), adding that PPP was key to solving Primary Healthcare (PHC) challenges like maternal and child morbidity, cancer and HIV.

He said that the ministry and the NGOs would collaborate to achieve the objectives and vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the health sector.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehinare, was quoted in the statement as saying that PHC and health delivery was paramount to the growth of the country.

Prof. Emmanuel Otolorin, who represented the NGOs, listed the challenges faced in discharging their duties to include accountability, transparency, unredeemed funding pledges, internal bureaucracy, the lack of coordination, master/servant relationship with partner.

“With the new government in place, there is a new opportunity for stock taking and departure from the `Business as Usual model’.

“The ministry has an opportunity to reposition the PHC, reverse medical tourism, enhance quality of care and patients’ safety, increase accountability and budgetary transparency,’’ Otolorin said.