HEALTH NEWS: Nigeria at 53: NMA regrets struggling health system

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) expressed regret that 53years of Nigeria's
independence, her health system is still struggling.

Dr. Osahon Enabulele, NMA president in his assessment of the country's health sector noted that like other sectors of the country's economy it has had its good and bad times with uninspiring national health indices attributable to years of cumulative insults, lack of professional order and best practices, a weak private health sector, poorly developed social infrastructure, as well as policy inconsistency.

He was however positive that if greater efforts are made to secure political commitment to health by all
levels of government, the story will change for good. Such a commitment he further said will save the country over $800 million annually from capital flight due to
unrestricted medical tourism.

He stated, "As Nigeria celebrates her 53rd Independence anniversary, she could in subsequent years, witness
better performance in her overall growth and development if greater efforts are made to secure: " Political commitment to health by all levels of government, particularly state and local governments with political leaders at local, state and federal government levels committing themselves to the utilization of public healthcare facilities in their communities, states and local governments rather than the frequent recourse to foreign medical care for medical conditions that can be effectively managed in Nigeria; This will save Nigeria from the huge capital flight and annual loss of over $800 million due to unrestricted medical tourism."

Besides, he stated the need for transparency in governance and also sustained implementation of poverty reduction schemes to reduce household poverty among other things. Enabulele also stated that "with sincere improvement in the budgetary provision for health to at least 15% of

Nigeria's national budget, backed with adequate release and effective utilization of the available funds and resources" coupled with the provision of modern health infrastructure and facilities, the health system could be overturned.

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