The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions has pledged its commitment to strengthening the efforts aimed at reorganizing healthcare delivery in Nigeria during the 10th National Assembly. Rep. Amos Magaji, the Chairman of the committee, made this promise during an oversight visit to the National Hospital in Abuja on Tuesday.
Expressing his concerns about the state of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, Magaji emphasized the urgent need for intervention by critical stakeholders in the sector. He highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the weaknesses in the Nigerian healthcare system. Even before the pandemic, many hospitals in the country lacked essential resources, such as oxygen plants.
Magaji noted that while progress had been made, there was still much work to be done to improve the healthcare system. He stated the committee’s commitment to supporting the equipping of hospitals through various means, including Public-Private Partnerships and procurement, as the budget for health remained insufficient.
The legislature also aims to address human resources for health, making the practice of medicine in Nigeria more attractive and competitive. Long and short-term plans will be developed to ease the process of enrolling in medical schools and encourage foreign medical professionals to come to Nigeria.
Magaji expressed a strong desire to reduce medical tourism, emphasizing that Nigerians should have access to quality healthcare within the country. The goal is for Nigeria’s hospitals to become sought-after destinations for medical care, leading to a reduction in the number of Nigerians seeking treatment abroad.
The financial sustainability of healthcare institutions was another concern raised by Magaji, who emphasized the need for hospitals to generate sufficient Internal Generated Revenue. He encouraged the National Hospital to embrace digitalization and automation to enhance service delivery and address financial challenges.
To make healthcare services more accessible, the committee advocated for a comprehensive health insurance system to ensure that all Nigerians have access to healthcare.
Rep. Adedayo Adesola also emphasized the role of legislation in securing funding for specialized units within the hospital, such as cancer care and trauma units.
