JOHESU Urges Tinubu to Reconstitute Boards of Federal Health Institutions
The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to urgently reconstitute the Boards/Governing Councils of all Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), Professional Regulatory Councils and other agencies in the health sector to bridge the yawning gaps in the management of the health institutions.
In a letter to the President, the union said that the non-constitution of the Board and Governing Councils has far reaching effects on the institutions, including the disruptions and poor oversight responsibilities of key structures in the hospital system, and stalls the promotion of senior staff as well as those who should be in management committees of the hospitals which needs the approval of the board.
It noted that, "There is observable culture of impunity and lack of adherence to due process by Chief Executive Officers of these Federal Health Institutions in the absence of Boards of Management.
"The absence of constituted Boards/Governing Councils for the institutions and agencies in the health sector would result in disruptions and poor oversight responsibilities of key structures in the hospital system including entire procurement process of drugs, dressings, consumables, construction works, transport and vehicular logistics and other related endeavours in healthcare management.’’
It further posited that, "it would impede other establishment procedures with regards to the training, research, and specialised care protocols of the Federal Health Institutions (FHIs). Vital decisions on specialised appointments which are incidental to care in hospital, have been delayed and almost jeopardised in some instances.’’
JEHOSU also argued that professional bodies which ought to enjoy legal status of perpetual succession are probably more affected because vital areas of their output are grounded in statutory provisions.
"Regulation and control of practice to enhance good professional practice protocols is lost in many instances because there is no governing council to statutorily empower the organs of the registry of the various councils. Also affected is the accreditation of training facilities which includes faculties in the universities, Schools of Health Technologies and indeed other cadres because the Governing Councils must give an approbation in law before these centres of learning and training facilities can be recognised in law.’’