THE first major effort at setting up private sector-managed mega hospitals in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones was initiated by the Federal Government yesterday.

Under the scheme, the government is giving the private sector the nod to mobilise resources to establish and manage the facilities in a selected state in the six zones.

The projects are part of the government’s renewed attempt to bring affordable health services to Nigeria and check the exodus of the citizens abroad for medical tourism.

At the inauguration of the panel to undertake the task yesterday in Abuja, the government said the committee headed by former United Bank for Africa (UBA) chief executive, Tony Elumelu and 19 other members drawn from the leading private hospitals in Nigeria, the African Finance Corporation would design a roadmap for unlocking private health entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

The panel will also draw up an implementable plan for the Presidency’s vision of establishing at least one world-class private hospital in each of the zones before the end of the tenure of the present administration.

Other members of the committee are officials of the Guild of Medical Directors, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who inaugurated the panel, tasked the members to conduct a critical analysis of low private sector investment in high-end specialist hospitals and medical diagnostic centres in Nigeria.

They are also to identify and engage potential investors with a view to guiding them to develop business models and plans for the establishment of world-class hospitals in the country.

The team will also look into and propose an accreditation scheme that would ensure full compliance with global best practices in the operations of the proposed facilities.

Chukwu said: “As many of you have observed, tertiary healthcare services in Nigeria have been largely in the domain of the public sector. However, inefficiency in resource management and service delivery, and the ever dwindling financial resources per capita for the health sector have made it difficult for many of the government-owned hospitals to keep up with global best practices

“The associated failure to provide high-end medical services in many instances coupled with globalisation has resulted in loss of patients to medical tourism with its attendant capital flight from the economy further worsening the economic situation in the country.  In the circumstances, it is obvious that government alone cannot provide all the facilities needed to provide adequate healthcare services to the teeming population, now at 167 million and still expanding. These issues have been a source of concern to the President who in his transformation agenda for the health sector has decided to engage the private sector under different models of Public Private Partnership.”

On his part, Elumelu stressed the need to ensure that the report of the committee does not go the way of previous ones, stressing that the panel would come up with implementable plans.

He also called on the government to create a competitive environment for the businesses to strive.

Representatives of the National Assembly at the event pledged the support of the two legislative chambers for the projects.

The health sector has also received a boost from the Nigerian Navy, which has placed order for modern medical equipment for its hospital in Calabar.

The equipment are expected in the country soon, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogunjimi, has said.

He asserted yesterday in Calabar, Cross River State, that the era of Nigerians travelling abroad for medical treatment would not be the vogue when the equipment are installed.

Ogunjimi spoke when the Chiefs of Abasi Obori Traditional Council, host community of the hospital, led by its chairman, Chief Effanga Asuquo Edet, visited him at the Eastern Naval Headquarters, Calabar.

He said the hospital, which would attract medical experts from all over the globe, was modelled after teaching hospitals in terms of services and others.

Ogunjimi explained that the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) decided that the Navy should take over the hospital that was started over 30 years ago and abandoned as a result of changes in administration and some other logistic reasons. He disclosed that the CNS has mobilised resources for its completion.

Ogunjimi explained that the Navy Clinic in Calabar would relocate to the abandoned hospital’s permanent site.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9565

Fingers crossed