Former Governor Donald Duke of the
Cross River State has urged the
Federal Government to provide more
primary health care facilities across
the country .
Duke , who spoke during the
inauguration of the Rabboni Hospital
in Festac Town , Lagos , stated that the presence of PHCs in communities would reduce mortality rates and improve the country ’s health indices.
He said , “ Just as certain services like schools and fire services are in every community , PHCs should be localised .
Until we have health care facilities
within a short radius of our homes,
we cannot say that we have done
right by the citizens .
“ Like a church sets a goal to have its branches on every street or five
minutes drive from its worshippers,
hospitals should have the same focus and this will go a long way in
resolving the health care challenges
in the country . ”
According to Duke , it is the
responsibility of the Federal
Government to ensure that
appropriate regulatory framework
and infrastructures are put in place
to provide an enabling environment
for owners of private healthcare
centres .
“ There should be special tax rates for medical services providers .
Government should not charge
hospitals high rates for water and
basic services because they are going to throw it back at the patients who may not have the finances to pay.
“ We also cannot expect one general
hospital to cater to residents in a
local government . Imagine if a place like Alimosho Local Government, with a population of about 2 . 5 million people had only a General Hospital . ” he added.
The Medical Director , Rabboni
Hospital , Dr. Okon Akiba, who called
for more public and private
partnership deals, noted that the
provision of health insurance for the
informal sector would help more
Nigerians to gain access to quality
health care .
He said , “ The historical antecedent of the health system of Nigeria was more welfare - based but that has changed.
Therefore , to help the indigents and
those who cannot afford to pay. Let
everybody be insured.
“ With health insurance , Nigerians
will be treated, whether they are poor
or rich . I believe the country has
what it takes to make it work. ”
Akiba charged owners of hospitals to raise the bar by providing services
that are available in foreign hospitals so as to attract more patients to their clinics .
“ Many Nigerians want quality health care , but because they cannot get it in the country they travel abroad , that is why we are introducing a comfortable medical service with world- class ethical care without manipulations .
“ We must try as much as possible to be competitive and affordable, and care for indigent patients as part of our social responsibilities,” he added.
