REPS SEEKS TO UPGRADE ON MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN NIGERIA
nassnewsng.com
Alexander Blessing
Members of the House of Representatives has call for a comprehensive upgrade and review of the Tertiary Health system teaching hospital and medical centers across the country to International standards to curb incessant aid on medical tourism abroad.
The House also resolve to set in motions, necessary machineries that would ensure an upward review of the budgetary allocation for Heath sector to meet the minimum of 15% recommend by the Abuja declaration of 2001.
The house said that it will enhance the full implementation of the budget in the health sector to unveil the quality of medical services available in the local institutions.
Speaking before members on the floor, Hon Segun Adekola who sponsored the motion noted that several studies have shown that if the twenty teaching hospital spread across the six political zone of the country are refurbished and made to function to optimally, Nigerians will not see the need to travel abroad for medical treatment and it will also prevent brain drain in the health sector.
He disclosed that in 2017, less than 5% (303billion) of the budget was allocated for Health care despite serious negative health indices, including the dishonor of being the major exporter of the oral polio virus to other nations.
The lawmakers stressed that the 1% consolidated fund which the national health Act 2004, stipulated should to be for Health especially for the universal health coverage with health insurance and primary health care has never been implemented since the Act was enacted in 2014.
According to Hon Adekola, the national hospital Abuja that was built to offer world class health services is perhaps the most demonstration of this problem,as it has become a shadow of it former self by cases of insufficient equipment including a non functional MRI and linear accelerator machines.
Despite Nigeria being the major signatory to the Abuja declaration of heads of government which resolve to adopt a minimum of 15% as national haealth for all members in Africa, the country has never exceeded 6% since that laudable step was taken in 2001 said Hon Segun Adekola.
The speaker, Yakubu Dogara to this end mediate the committee on labour, employment and productivity to ensure implementation.