FG to Adopt Public Private Partnership in the Health Sector

artins Ifijeh
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has revealed federal government’s readiness to adopt Public Private Partnership model in developing healthcare infrastructure in order to augment the budgetary provision, as well as fast track development in the health sector.

Adewole, who stated this during his visit to tertiary health institutions in Enugu State, said PPP does not translate to loss of job but rather would make public sector run with effectiveness, efficiency and prudence of the private sector.

According to him, the Federal Government was committed to gradual upgrade of tertiary facilities in the country for effective healthcare in order to reduce medical tourism.

In his visit to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), the Minister of Healthobserved the warmness and solidarity displayed by the team, and therefore encouraged them to continue as quality care can only be guaranteed in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

UNTH, which is regarded as the foremost thoracic cardiac centre in Nigeria has conducted 175 open heart cases since 2013.

Similarly, the minister visited the National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu, where he urged the management and staff to join hands with the Federal Government to stem the tide of medical tourism.

While, commending them for the neat environment and harmonious working relationship, he advised them to take part in the 10,000 surgeries, the ministry was doing, for which the ministry will be picking the bill using the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) rate.

At the Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, the Managing Director, Dr.Ugochukwu Onwukwe, informed the minister that the hospital records 10 fresh new cases every five days and most of the patients were unemployed and as such could not pay for cost of treatment.

He said his team was working towards creating psychiatric training unit in Primary Health Care (PHC), so as to involve the community in the care of the patients. Adewole commended the management and encouraged them to involve the community in caring for the patients.