Govt to spend N4.1 trillion in health sector

[TGD]

 THE Federal Government has said that for transformation to be achieved in the health sector anchored on the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP), it would invest about N4.1 trillion over a five-year period.

The plan, from 2010 to 2015 is consistent with the goals of the Nigerian national health policy of 2004. NSHDP has eight priority areas of focus, divided into eight goals, 33 objectives and 70 interventions.

Briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that the 100 days of the present administration for the health sector encapsulated on the ministry's Action Push Agenda focused on primary health care and realization of health Millennium Development Goals.

Chukwu listed others to include "disease prevention, surveillance and control, provision of affordable but world class health care services at public and private tertiary health institutions, and industrial harmony."

The Minister also expressed concern over the commercialisation of medical referrals of patients to other countries by some Nigerian doctors.

"A few health workers have commercialised referrals abroad. Some of us are working hard to improve the health system, others just sit in their offices and refer cases. The arrangement is that they get (commissions) of 10 to 15 percentages on each case referred," he lamented.

He warned that such "unethical practices" which promote capital flight from Nigeria and medical tourism in other countries would not go unpunished by the Federal Government.

Chukwu listed the ministry's target in the next one year to include the completion of phase II and III FGN/VAMED upgrade of tertiary hospital projects, and operation of the National Health Act and National Tobacco Control Bill.

He said a policy on comprehensive National Emergency Medical Response, launch of a community health insurance scheme and accelerate coverage of routine immunisation would also be put in place.

The NSHDP is a coasted plan jointly developed by all stakeholders in the sector including the federal, state and local governments, the private and other development partners.



The Guardian

[emezico]

As a concerned Nigeria, l hope the N4.1 trillion proposed for the health sector, would be used for the right purpose, and not mismanagement by some greedy political guns in the sector.