FG Moves to Improve Standards in Governance of Health Institutions

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has inaugurated the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC) as part of efforts to improve the standards in the nation’s tertiary hospitals.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, who performed the inauguration in Abuja, said the committee is comprised of seasoned healthcare professionals with varied experiences in various aspects of healthcare management.

He also said that they will be supported by the statutory regulatory bodies in the health sector.  

In a statement signed by the Director information at the ministry, Patricia Deworitshe, the Minister stated: “With this inauguration, the federal government has reiterated its commitment towards improving the governance of health systems, which is the first pillar of the current administration’s focus”.

He listed other deliverables to include; population health outcomes, unlocking the value chain, and health security. 

The Minister of State noted that the members were chosen to reflect all the geopolitical zones in the country as enshrined in the National Health Act, 2014.

He added that the committee is to ensure compliance and a high level of standards in our tertiary hospitals in line with global best practices.

Members of the committee comprise chief executives of the Tertiary Health Institutions, the Registrars of the 14 regulatory bodies  in the health sector are also statutory  members, and these include the National Postgraduate Medical College, Medical and Dental Council  of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council  of Nigeria, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Registration Board (MRTB), Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria  (MLSCN), Dental Therapists Registration Board, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board.

Others are Community Health Practitioners Reg. Board (CHPRBN), Dental Technologist Registration Board of Nigeria (DTRBN), Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, the Health Records Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) and the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN).

The secretary of the committee is the director and head of the Department of Hospital Services, Dr.  Salaudeen Jimoh, mni and the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation are also members.

The terms of reference and functions of the committee are to advise the Minister on matters affecting the establishment of Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria, prepare periodic master plans for the balanced and coordinated development of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria and establish minimum standards to be attained by the various tertiary health facilities in the nation and also to inspect and accredit such facilities.

The committee is to make relevant investigations and recommendations to the federal and state governments on tertiary health care services in the national interest; advise the federal government on the financial needs, both recurrent and capital, of tertiary health services and in particular investigate and study the financial needs for training, research and services and make appropriate recommendations for these.

Others are to set standards and criteria for the allocation of funds from the federal government to tertiary health institutions and monitor their utilization, and source for grants as laid down by the Committee, collate, analyse, and publish information about tertiary health care services annually; lay down broad operational guidelines in all areas of management for use by the Tertiary Hospitals Management Board and monitor and evaluate all activities, receive annual reports from the tertiary hospitals and supervise annual peer reviews.

The Minister of State said that the committee may also get directives of a general nature not relating to the specifics given by the National Health Act about the exercise by the committee from time to time.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, mni, assured the members of the committee of the unflinching support of the Ministry towards the provision of adequate funds and enabling environment to operate optimally to achieve the set goals of the committee.

Chairman of the Committee, Professor Phillip  Abiodun, expressed the committee’s determination and readiness to help the government in some areas it is facing challenges such as medical tourism, leading to enormous loss of revenue to Nigeria, the Japa syndrome with a  massive continuous loss of capable manpower in the health sector and the issue of perennial industrial unrest and the resultant poor health situation of the populace.

Abiodun urged the Ministry to support the committee by providing all necessary resources needed by the committee to discharge their duties effectively.

He assured the minister of regular consultations and briefings of the Minister and other relevant authorities as may be necessary.