Health Reforms: Knocks, Kudos Trail Osinbajo Committee
• Committee Came At Right Time, Should Work Fast, Say Ihekweazu, NARD President • Nigeria Has Good Health Laws, Policies, Problem Is Poor Implementation, Says Idris • ‘ Govt Sincerity In Doubt’ • Osibogun, Adeyanju, Ojo, Others Chart Way Forward
ALTHOUGH stakeholders see the current move by the Federal Government to reform the country’s health sector towards optimal delivery as a step in the right direction, they fear that the outcome of the exercise might be left to gather dusts in the archives.
According to many health professionals who spoke with The Guardian, the nation’s health sector ought to be better placed if the various Acts of parliament governing the sector, especially the National Health Act 2014 and the Yayale Ahmed Interprofessional Health Committee Report were being properly implemented.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, last Monday, set up a Health Sector Reform Committee charged with the development and implementation of a Health Sector Reform programme for Nigeria.
The committee, to be chaired by Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, would also work in collaboration with state governments and the FCT administration.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who confirmed the development in a statement, had added that the committee, set up for a period of six months, had members drawn from the private and public sector, health care management professionals, development partners, representatives from the National Assembly, as well as the Nigeria Governors Forum, among others, adding that it would undertake a review of all healthcare reforms adopted in the past two decades and lessons learnt, and factor them into the development of the new health sector reform programme.
Speaking with The Guardian on the development, a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA), Dr. Omede Idris, said he received the news of the setting up of the committee with mixed feelings.
“Mixed feelings on the basis that in most instances in this country, committees are tactical and diplomatic ways of delaying a process or killing an idea. The idea in this instance is a better health care delivery in terms of training, research and service delivery to the people at an assessable and affordable manner. Most often, the outcome of the committee are not heard, or if heard are swept under the carpet, except for a few.
“Notably, the telecommunication and banking sector reforms stand out as fairly successful, which notably and originally were more private sector based. We are still battling with electricity sector reform that had more public orientation,” he said.
Idris argued that if the Federal Ministry of Health and its Department and Agencies had demonstrated practical and keen interest in leadership, governance, implementation, accountability, monitoring and evaluation of the National Health Act 2014 ( NHACT2014), the Yayale Ahmed inter- professional Health Committee Report and many other similar reports, the nation’s health sector wouldn’t be in its current abysmal state.
“It is in the wake of such that there has been repeated calls for the full implementation and strict observance of the content of NHACT 2014, and many existing Acts of parliament and reports in the health sector as well as the avarice of some conflicting Acts of parliament on regulation of the health sector.
“If these were done, the nation wouldn’t need such committee at this moment in the name of reform. Until the system and institutions really and justifiably apply carrot and stick approach to leadership and governance, irrespective of who is involved or whose ox is gored, the sector wouldn’t be better placed. In which case, reform committee like this, would just be mere formalities.
“With the above background, it must be observed and unambiguously stated that in health, with the various Acts of parliament in place and operational, ranging from National Health, NPHCDA, Health Insurance, Medical and Dental regulatory and other health regulatory Acts, the nation ought to be better placed in health either in public or private sector. We are equally aware that some of these Acts and laws are undergoing amendment and or repeal in the National Assembly in line with changing times, dynamism of professionalism, governance, administration and politics, focusing on best approach to health issues. Obviously and frankly, the committee does not have right of enforcement over Acts of parliament or constitutional provisions.
“Nonetheless, we look forward to the inauguration of the Health Sector Reform Committee and its detailed and clear Terms of Reference ( TOR). The inclusion of Bureau of Public Enterprise gives an insight into the possible direction of the committee, that is privatisation. We need to tread carefully on this path, but rather government looks to enacting a law for Health infrastructure bank whose application will further enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and job satisfaction in the health sector.”
However, to the outgoing Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the setting up of the committee was an indication of political commitment to ensure a stronger health sector and improved health indices for Nigerians.