Medical tourism: Senate moves to block revenue leakages, exodus of doctors, nurses

The Senate has moved to block revenue leakages from medical tourism following the consideration of a bill seeking the reduction in the number of Nigerians travelling to other countries for medical care.

The bill titled: “Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2021” was sponsored by Aishatu Ahmed (APC, Adamawa Central).

Leading debate on the bill, Ahmed said the absence of a legal framework for the regulation, development and management of Federal Medical Centers to set standards for rendering health services was responsible for hindering the provision of intensive, effective and efficient healthcare services to the people of Nigeria.

The lawmaker argued underfunding, weak facilities and infrastructure, the poor motivation of health workers, low budget, weak accountability, conflicts with the political structure of the states and industrial strikes had weakened effective healthcare delivery services across the country.

She noted that the passage of the bill would reduce the number of Nigerians who have to go to other countries for medical care

The lawmaker lamented that an average of 20,000 Nigerians travel to India each year for medical assistance due to the absence of a solid healthcare system in Nigeria.

Ahmed further noted that the piece of legislation would also sufficiently address remuneration of the employees of the Medical Centers, which in turn would check the exodus of doctors and nurses to other countries.

According to her, “77 percent of black doctors in the US are Nigerians and there is rarely any top medical institution in the US or Europe where you don’t find Nigerians managing at the top level.

“Hardly a year passes without a major national strike by nurses, doctors, or health consultants. The major reasons for these strikes are poor salaries and lack of government investment in the health sector.

“A recent UNICEF report has it that “preventable or treatable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 percent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria.”

Contributing to the debate, Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central) said Federal Medical Centres were incapacitated as a result of the absence of legal backing establishing them and insufficient funding.

“We have about twenty-three Federal Medical Centres that were established across the country, but without legal backing.

“The consequence of such is that there are, what I will call policy somersault as regards the operations of these centres.

“You see some of the centres that have enough facilities and manpower to even be termed a Teaching Hospital, but because the legal framework did not state the standard, in terms of infrastructures, manpower and services, they remain like that, and it becomes at the whims and caprices of the policy makers in the Federal Ministry of Health.

“The consequences in terms of funding allocation, Federal Medical Centres receive less fund compared to Teaching Hospitals, the lawmaker said.

After passing a second reading, the bill was referred to the Committee on Health to report back in four weeks time for further legislative action.

Meanwhile, the upper chamber has also thrown its weight against any form of casualization in all forms of employment in the private and public sector in Nigeria.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/businessday.ng/health/article/medical-tourism-senate-moves-to-block-revenue-leakages-exodus-of-doctors-nurses/amp/ Lalasticlala

She noted that the passage of the bill would reduce the number of Nigerians who have to go to other countries for medical care

“77 percent of black doctors in the US are Nigerians and there is rarely any top medical institution in the US or Europe where you don’t find Nigerians managing at the top level.

Stupid talk.Even this Senator talking here also goes for medical tourism.How can the brilliant brains in the ever deteriorating Nigerian healthcare system stay put only to die for nothing.Imagine how much is the hazard allowance of a medic comparable to the allowance/ salary of a LGA counsellor

The President-Maj.General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.),on Friday said Nigerians should not continue going abroad for medical treatment.

“Nigerians have suffered so much going abroad for medical treatment.This is not good for us & it must stop because we can’t afford it again" The President, who himself had travelled to the United Kingdom for treatment on several occasions."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/nigerians-cant-continue-going-overseas-for-treatment-buhari/amp/

This is the president of a country violating his country and government promise to avoid medical tourism and extravagant wastage of meagre resources.

Now Imagine Aso Rock clinic without basic consumables.Garki hospital without basic radiologic scanning machine.Imagine how most of our teaching hospital becoming mere "deathrow" consulting clinic let alone FMC that lack necessary legislative backbone to function optimally.

So which healthcare worker will consider staying put in a country with a bastardized health sector when there are great opportunities for better working conditions, remuneration and life abound abroad @ your beck and call?

Kk

Good development.

Nigeria will be great again in our lifetime.

Noted

Racoon:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/nigerians-cant-continue-going-overseas-for-treatment-buhari/amp/

This is the president of a country violating his country and government promise to avoid medical tourism and extravagant wastage of meagre resources.

Even with this good and positive news , Racoon, you never saw any positivity in it.
All you do is wail and cry on EVERYTHING.
Is the wall clock in your house permanently on hate O'clock?!
Please be positive for once in life biko.
Please don't wail from 2015 to 2023 , that is loooong 8 years brotherly.

You and your ilks are only negative 24/7 and 365 days in a year.
You wake up in hate and anger and live throughout the day the same way!
When do you find time to be happy, smile with family members, have fun, make love and  sometimes, just as other human beings do!
Cc Omenka 

If we criticize constructively this country will be better for us all.
#BeLikeDemManna, acknowledge the positive things And let us criticize the negative things together, as we do @[color=#006600][/color].

An advice from the elders.

Peace out!

We know we're experiencing brain drain but above all, let them travel if they want. We would have had many jobless doctors if not for the exodus, keeping supply to the labour market low.

Or they should build more hospitals, renovate existing ones and equip them adequately, then employ medics and pay them regularly. I know this one is hard for the government of the day so, let doctors travel and have their good lives.

See them...if them born you well mention the name of The no. 1 Chief Medical Tourist!!! The one that started tourism of Ear infection!!

There was never a country

Useless Fools! You don't appreciate one of the most Important Set of People in this Country.
Let's see if it's not just talk talk talk.

Trash, will it stop Buhari from going to the UK for his treatment?

ok

Unless you make healthcare competitive you are wasting your time.


Health insurance is the way!

Too late to shut the stable doors.........


It takes more than a move by the senate............

Mindlog:
Trash, will it stop Buhari from going to the UK for his treatment?

..

Why... keep paying bandits and kidnappers..

It is well

Ok

Start with yourselves

Wash

Wrong damage control. They should fix what needs to be fixed and stop all these damage control mechanism joor.

Nigerian politicians that don't go to Nigerian hospitals so, let then allow our Doctors jare

They should stop their own Medical Tourism abroad first!

Mnhh...