The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has called on medical practitioners in the country to remain patient and optimistic, assuring them of improved welfare and working conditions as part of broader efforts to revitalize Nigeria’s health sector.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, made the pledge in Abuja on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the 3rd National Health Summit, themed ‘Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Translating Policies into Impact’, organized by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The summit was declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by the Coordinating Minister Pate.
Pate, who commended the dedication and sacrifices of healthcare professionals, emphasized their role in maintaining industrial harmony despite significant challenges.
While reassuring them that ongoing government initiatives would address their concerns and ensure their efforts yield meaningful results, promising, the Minister outlined government actions aimed at transforming healthcare delivery, including policies to enhance working conditions, improve welfare packages, and create an enabling environment for medical practitioners.
He emphasized that these efforts are critical to achieving a resilient and efficient health system, ultimately benefiting both healthcare workers and the Nigerian population.
He said: “We must thank the practitioners and their leadership for maintaining a peaceful environment because, without that peace, that harmony in the sector would be very difficult to put the building blocks that we would all be proud of.
“Ultimately, there are issues, and there will be discomfort. Nigeria is going through a very challenging moment at this point but we believe that if we are determined and sincere, and if we put the patient at the center of attention, I think all of these issues with dialogue, we can be able to resolve them”.
The Minister assured the medical practitioners and Nigerians of a more resilient and improved health sector, noting that the government’s health sector revitalization program is already delivering results.
He urged healthcare professionals to align with the government’s vision by prioritizing patient-centred care and fostering collaboration to achieve lasting reforms.
Highlighting progress, the Minister pointed to expanded access to cancer treatment and the revitalization of primary healthcare as significant milestones, while acknowledging the need for sustained efforts to consolidate these gains and address remaining challenges.
While he acknowledged that much work remains to be done to meet the aspirations of universal health coverage, the Minister expressed optimism about achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through collective determination and patient-centred reforms,
Emphasizing the need for collaboration among stakeholders to sustain ongoing reforms and tackle persistent issues, he said, “If we remain committed and put patients at the heart of our efforts, we can overcome the challenges”.
In his call to action for medical practitioners, Pate urged healthcare professionals to align with the government’s vision by prioritizing patient-centred care, fostering dialogue, and contributing to the sector’s stability.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Summit, the NMA President Prof. Bala Mohammed Audu, expressed cautious optimism about the Nigerian government’s policies and programs aimed at improving the health sector.
Addressing the ‘Japa syndrome’ the mass emigration of healthcare professionals, Audu noted that the government’s National Health Workforce Retention Policy, coupled with improved welfare and working conditions, could reverse the trend.
He stressed the urgency of paying salary arrears and employing more healthcare workers to reduce the strain on overstretched personnel.
He highlighted key initiatives of the government such as addressing governance challenges, unlocking value chains in healthcare, and implementing measures to retain health workers as critical steps toward improving the country’s health indices.
Noting that the theme of the Summit cannot be overemphasized, Audu emphasized the importance of translating well-crafted policies into actionable strategies, saying, “We want to move policies from the conceptual level to implementation, to ensure that field workers, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, fully understand and execute these policies to deliver quality, affordable, and patient-centred care.
On the rising cost of medical consumables, Audu attributed it to economic challenges and the reliance on imports.
He, however, praised the government’s focus on boosting local pharmaceutical production, saying, “This long-term solution could significantly reduce costs and improve access to essential medications while strengthening the economy.”
The Executive Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), emphasized the importance of effective policy implementation for national development, stressing that it must not be handled lightly.
Represented by Deputy Commandant Ibrahim Abdul, Marwa urged the association to carefully consider both the merits and demerits of advocating for the decriminalization of cannabis, particularly given the specific strains of cannabis present in the country.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
