EXPERTS TACKLE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL HEALTH ACT, 10 YEAR AFTER 30-05-24
By Sadiq Aminu The House of Representatives House Committee on Health Institutions
has expressed its readiness and determination toward improving the health infrastructure and well-being of Nigerians across the country.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Amos Magaji who stated in Abuja during the second day of the public hearing expressed grave concerns over the failure of Federal Government towards the implementation of the National Health Act, 10 years after it was signed into law.
Mr. Magaji noted that most of the Medical Practitioners who attend to Nigerians seeking medical services in developed countries are those who left the country as a result of poor condition of service.
He reiterated the Committee’s determination towards reversing the ugly trend.
He explained that part of the mandates of the Committee was to identify the major obstacles hindering the Nigerian health institutions from providing the needed services to the citizens for proper implementation by the authorities concern.
The President, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Professor Bala Audi expressed overwhelming support for the declaration of state of emergency in the health sector in view of the sympathetic condition and poor renumeration.
He lamented that the poor state of some tertiary health institutions and remuneration contributed to the migration of many competent and qualified medical practitioners to foreign countries despite the huge funds invested in them by the government.
In his Presentation, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate who was represented by Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Daju Kachallom disclosed that the Ministry has the development guideline for establishing and coordinating organ and tissue transportation services in Nigeria.
She argued that the regulation of consultants is paramount, however called on other regulatory bodies in Nigeria that have to do with the health sector to work with Federal Government to ensure that ethics are not compromised.