Nigeria’s development is hinged on Quality healthcare – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says quality, affordable and reliable health care is critical to the Nigeria’s development.

Osinbajo expressed this view while virtually opening the Health Reform Committee on Thursday, in Abuja. According to him, any society is as prosperous, developed and happy as its health system. There must be a plan to improve access to quality, reliable, functional and affordable health care for citizens. “President Muhammadu Buhari, in several public statements, made it clear that a modern, virile, people-centered health system was central to his vision for the socio-economic growth of the nation.However, the current reality is that the Nigerian health sector still faces some critical challenges. Which have resulted in suboptimal outcomes, especially when compared to health care systems in more developed jurisdictions around the world.”

He said the government had the primary responsibility to address the issues and put in place the necessary structures and arrangements to drive the efficiency of the healthcare ecosystem.

The vice president said it was the government’s responsibility to improve health care delivery, stop the brain drain of health personnel and reduce pressure on foreign reserves from medical tourism.

He said that in fulfillment of that objective, the president approved the establishment of this Health Reform Committee to begin the development and implementation of a comprehensive Health Sector Reform Program for the country.

According to Osinbajo, the National Privatization Council at its meeting on April 12, 2019, approved the appointment of consultants to carry out the assignment.

“Which involved a review of previous reform efforts in the sector, as well as field visits to 55 tertiary health institutions throughout the country and some selected sub-regional health institutions. It is also important to mention that a series of stakeholder consultations were carried out with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), health unions and key stakeholders in the sector.” he said.

Osinbajo said that, as mandated, the Health Sector Reform Committee had the crucial task of reviewing these reports and directing the direction of needed reforms. He also said the multisectoral and multidisciplinary engagement required to execute a health reform mandate on the scale and complexity was key.

VP Osinbajo mentioned he was interested in ensuring that the coordinating office for the reform effort that is housed in the Office of the Vice President would not only have the Ministry of Health but other offices.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says quality, affordable and reliable health care is critical to the Nigeria’s development.

Osinbajo expressed this view while virtually opening the Health Reform Committee on Thursday, in Abuja. According to him, any society is as prosperous, developed and happy as its health system. There must be a plan to improve access to quality, reliable, functional and affordable health care for citizens. “President Muhammadu Buhari, in several public statements, made it clear that a modern, virile, people-centered health system was central to his vision for the socio-economic growth of the nation.However, the current reality is that the Nigerian health sector still faces some critical challenges. Which have resulted in suboptimal outcomes, especially when compared to health care systems in more developed jurisdictions around the world.”

He said the government had the primary responsibility to address the issues and put in place the necessary structures and arrangements to drive the efficiency of the healthcare ecosystem.

The vice president said it was the government’s responsibility to improve health care delivery, stop the brain drain of health personnel and reduce pressure on foreign reserves from medical tourism.

He said that in fulfillment of that objective, the president approved the establishment of this Health Reform Committee to begin the development and implementation of a comprehensive Health Sector Reform Program for the country.

According to Osinbajo, the National Privatization Council at its meeting on April 12, 2019, approved the appointment of consultants to carry out the assignment.

“Which involved a review of previous reform efforts in the sector, as well as field visits to 55 tertiary health institutions throughout the country and some selected sub-regional health institutions. It is also important to mention that a series of stakeholder consultations were carried out with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), health unions and key stakeholders in the sector.” he said.

Osinbajo said that, as mandated, the Health Sector Reform Committee had the crucial task of reviewing these reports and directing the direction of needed reforms. He also said the multisectoral and multidisciplinary engagement required to execute a health reform mandate on the scale and complexity was key.

VP Osinbajo mentioned he was interested in ensuring that the coordinating office for the reform effort that is housed in the Office of the Vice President would not only have the Ministry of Health but other offices.