By Abasi Ita, Calabar
Health administrators across the country have called on the Federal Government to domesticate the African Union charter stipulating 15 percent of budgetary allocation to the health sector.
National President, Institute of Health Service Administrators (IHSAN), Pst Rosemary Archibong Esq made the call in Calabar during the weekend while briefing the media on the outcome of a professional development workshop for Health Service Administrators held in Markudi, Benue.
According to her, “Nigeria is a signatory to the African Union charter which amongst other things enjoined member countries to allocate 15 percent of their annual budget to the sector.
“The measure was conceived as part of deliberate step needed to reposition the sector to handle trending challenges, upgrade facilities and promote manpower development to meet growing needs.”
She explained that “Such measure will go a long way in curtailing medical tourism, the alarming rate of maternal mortality and high-level of brain drain ravaging the health sector.”
Barr. Archibong, a renowned technocrat with bias in hospital management opined that the healthcare system, demands priority attention from any government with a particular interest in the well-being of its citizenry, arguing that such posture will galvanise human capital, and fights poverty thereby promoting productivity.
She expressed delight over the appointment of Dr. (Mrs) Salma Anas as Special Adviser, Health describing her as a round peg in a round hole.
A communique jointly signed by Mrs Rosemary Archibong and the National Secretary, Mr Harrison Etim issued at the end of the 3-day workshop themed: Modernizing Health Care for Better Care, Better Health and Lower Cost, congratulated Senator Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s 16 President and Commander-in-Chief.
It called on the federal government to prioritise healthcare delivery and education through strict adherence to the African Union charter endorsed by the African Head of States in Abuja.
Other prayers sought for in the Communique includes prompt payment of capitation and fees for service claims as well as ensuring that the National Health Insurance Authority reviews the amount being paid as capitation to health-care providers.”
“The association also solicited “Regular training for healthcare managers to encourage digital biometrics membership registration, ensure implementation of Health Trust Fund policy, improved infrastructure and logistics in health institutions, while promoting digital use technologies in healthcare management as well creating an enabling environment for the private sector to participate in the health sector.”