Health
How we can end medical tourism abroad–Perm Sec
The Federal Government says Nigeria can put an end to medical tourism through medical services reform in the health sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Mamman Mahmuda, affirmed this on Tuesday in Abuja, during a two-day SERVICOM retreat for principal SERVICOM officers of teaching hospitals, Federal Medical Centers (FMC) and other health institutions.
According to him, a citizen-focused in service delivery will reform healthcare delivery and will bu extension result in ending medical tourism
“We are trying to move forward vital issues that are sensitive and centered on the citizens so that they can have the best services possible with the available resources.
“I charge the participants to change to a positive attitude and have the citizens at heart because they are vital so that at the end of the day the issue of seeking medical attention outside the country will be over.”
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM Office Mrs, Nnenna Akajameli, in an address, noted that as SERVICOM foot soldiers, there was need for them to begin think outside the box to come up with better services delivery.
Akajemili who was represented by Ternenge Nyipira,Team Lead SERVICOM in charge of the health sector stressed that thinking outside the box will add to value to the service delivery of processes in the various hospitals and agencies to the satisfaction of ctizens and for the common good of every Nigerian.
According to her, the two-day meeting serves as a means for Nodal/Focal and Desk Officers to network and interact on issues concerning service delivery improvement in Federal Ministry of Health and all its hospitals and agencies.
She urged them to begin to engage with their stakeholders periodically to validate standards set in the service charter and to streamline the service delivery process to make it more citizen focused and less cumbersome.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Jaf Momoh, for his part said the decisions from the retreat would ensure that efficient service delivery attitude is inculcated in health care providers towards a patient centred service delivery.
He also said that it would ensure that continuous improvement becomes a nationwide principle on patient schedule in all federal teaching hospitals.
“They should pay attention and suggest ways whereby our patients can have good service delivery where patients’ experience can be much better because when patients are sick we ought to be patient with them because they are under pressure.”
The Nodal Officer at the hospital, Dr Tayo Haastrup, said that the retreat is held every quarter to assess the quality of service in the health sector to ensure better service delivery to patients.
“We have assembled the national officers, all nodal officers in all Federal Medical Centres and hospitals in this country to make sure that when quality service has been rendered by hospitals, there will be no need for people to go abroad for treatment.
“We can do it, the doctors we have in this country are very effective and efficient.
“We just have to continue to monitor and have programmes for the staff, doctors, nurses and other sectors of the hospital setup to ensure they give their best to reduce medical tourism in Nigeria.”
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