Quality Healthcare is integral part of Tinubu’s administration– Minister

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has described better and quality health care services as an integral and essential part of the President Bola Tinubu’s led administration.

Pate stated this at at the commissioning of an the expanded Caroline Medical Center in Abuja, noting that part of the agenda of the current administration is to invest in infrastructure, equipment, human resources and clinical governance systems, aimed at elevating the quality of healthcare available to all Nigerians.

Represented by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, the minister said the center stands as a testament to the renewed focus on healthcare by the Federal Government.

He said: “This facility is more than just a building; it is a symbol of progress, a shining light in our fight against the burden of medical tourism and the high mortality rate associated with renal diseases that afflict our citizens.

“Caroline Medical Center is a symbol of hope for Nigerians. It promises to provide world-class treatment right here at home, reducing the need for Nigerians to go abroad for medical care.

“This commitment to the well-being of Nigerians means access to better health, life-saving treatments, and a brighter future. By keeping this promise, the center is helping to build a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria.”

Pate however, noted that the ministry is focused on improving the quality of governance in the health sector and improving population health outcomes by increasing the efficiencies of health care service delivery towards engendering better health for all, and ensure medical industrialisation by unlocking the value chains and prioritise health security.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Delta state, Sen. Ned Nwoko, stressed the need for improved and urgent investments in the health sector in order to provide Nigerians the best healthcare service that they deserve.

Nwoko who is also a member, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, explained that such investments should not be limited to government health institutions and hospitals alone, but should also involve the private institutions.

According to him, “Government should give more emphasis on training and upgrading of medical personnel while efforts you be made on bringing back health personnel who have emigrated for greener pastures, and encourage them to come back home and support in building a better and healthier Nigeria.”

The lawmaker added that, “My heart bleeds for Nigeria because if at the leadership level we have paid attention to healthcare in Nigeria things would be much better.

“Part of what I have decided to do is to sponsor a motion that all Federal Medical Centers in Nigeria must be of high standard, we should be able to have a semblance of the facilities we have in other countries.

“It does not cost too much to buy those equipment and we have very good and well-trained doctors who are leaving in droves to other countries because of poor remuneration.”

The CMD of the center, Dr Elijah Miner, estimates that the treatment of kidney diseases cost of medical tourism in Nigeria to be
over one billion dollars noting that the only way to reverse the trend is by having centers such as his.

“It requires our people to be engaged. Just like we have done this, you can imagine a private enterprise being able to do this and the government can do a lot more, so we look forward to that.”