FG will not fund foreign medical trips for officials

Mrs. Boade Akinola

A statement had it that the Federal Government will not provide resources for any government official to travel abroad for medical attention unless the case cannot be handled in Nigeria.

The statement was issued by the Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola, in Abuja on Thursday.

It said President Muhammadu Buhari made the fact known at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Sokoto.

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the government would not deny anyone his or her fundamental human rights.

He, however, added: "We will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad when such can be handled in Nigeria.”

Buhari called on health professionals to discontinue inter-professional crises which had impacted negatively on the healthcare delivery system of the country.

“We have seen the hazards that this unfortunate and highly preventable problems have caused to the quality of health care delivery in Nigeria."

"May I employ members of NMA to always imbibe the spirit of teamwork to ensure harmonious relationship with other health professionals, no profession can effectively and efficiently function without the other,” he said.

Concerning the welfare of health professionals, the president said "government will review all previous agreements and take reasonable decisions that will not infringe on the rights of the workers."

"This government will invest in programme that will improve capacity of all cadres of health workers.’’

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Adewole, represented by the Minister of State Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the theme of the event (Doctors in Administrative Position in a democratic Dispensation) was important.

Adewole said that leadership in the health sector was not only limited to occupying the chief executive position but involved accepting challenging responsibilities.

He urged medical doctors to prepare to work in harmony with other health care professionals, including those in administration, to improve healthcare delivery. (NAN)