WHO Urges FG to Implement Presidential Health Reform Report

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised the federal government to adopt the recommendations of the Presidential Health Reform Committee report and implement them.

This, it noted would help the country achieve the target of Universal Health Coverage.

It stated that engaging communities should be part of a comprehensive strategy to reorient health systems to meet the expectations and needs of populations.

In his speech delivered at the Universal Health Coverage 2023 Forum: Health Policy Dialogue held in Abuja, yesterday, WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said the six components of the recommendations by the health reform committee should indeed be a good starting point to ‘get it right from the outset’.

Molumbo said WHO actively participated in the health sector reform programme whose aim was to move Nigeria closer to its Universal Health Coverage aspirations.

However, the WHO Scribe said: “Commitment of the incoming administration to adopt recommendations in this Presidential Health Reform Committee report articulated in 6 components is indeed a good starting point to get it right from the outset”.

Highlighting the six components of the health reform report, Molumbo said one of them which was health governance, leadership and institutional reforms is a critical building block without which Nigeria cannot make progress towards universal health coverage.

Molumbo said the second point was undertaking the health infrastructure upgrades, pharmaceutical supply chain and research development to improve the standards and quality of healthcare delivery across the country.

According to the WHO Director, another aspect was the health service delivery and redesigning service delivery to maximise outcomes, optimise quality and ensure right-place services by competent providers.

He also said pandemic preparedness and response with strong collaboration, capabilities and governance would enhance the ability for public health in Nigeria to respond to the challenges that lie ahead.

The fifth aspect of the reform Molumbo pointed out was the health financing systems reforms, a foundational strategy for the scale up of the universal healthcare coverage (UHC) aspirations of Nigeria.

Molumbo further said the committee’s recommendation on human resources for health reforms would ensure a competent, equitably distributed, motivated, and supported health workforce to progress towards universal health coverage.

“Implementation of these components will see the health system strengthened to meet present day challenges including reorientation of PHC for improved service delivery, improved preparedness and response to pandemics and other health emergencies, and rethinking of solutions to the huge challenge of ensuring adequate, skilled and well distributed health care workers in the midst of rising migration of the critical professionals,” he said.