The Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN) urged the Federal Government on Wednesday in Lagos to strongly increase and modernise healthcare services to meet the citizens’ medical needs, given the country’s projected population of over 400 million by 2050. IHSAN said that the growing population makes it harder for people to get affordable health care because the sector doesn’t get enough funds, and its infrastructure is broken down. While focusing on the theme “Advancing the HealthCare Management System in Nigeria” at IHSAN’s 37th National Workshop and Annual General Meeting, IHSAN President Pastor Rosemary Archibong expressed disappointment that only a small fraction of Nigerians are covered by the country’s health insurance scheme, which has resulted in a medical workforce that falls far short of the World Health Organization (WHO) minimum requirements.
According to Archibong, they want the federal government to create and maintain favourable working conditions for all medical professionals, including hospital administrators. They need to move healthcare administration forward deliberately. For the current administration’s renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector to be realised, she encouraged healthcare professionals to collaborate in close synergy, upgrade their skill sets, attract significant investors to their bodies, strengthen their IGR free from unethical behaviour, and be more enthusiastic in the discharge of their duties.
There is a need for healthcare preparedness, adaptation, and resilience.
Keynote speaker Dr. Adedamola Dada, Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre in Ebute Metta, Lagos, discussed how Nigeria must overcome obstacles like inadequate resources, inequalities in the availability of care, instability in politics, corruption, and a lack of institutional capacity if it is to make progress in healthcare in the country. Dada, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of the need for healthcare preparedness, adaptation, and resilience, has called attention to the migration of qualified medical personnel and the drug shortages caused by economic instability.
In order to further develop the healthcare management framework in Nigeria, they need to focus on pressing issues such as enhancing the quality of care that is provided by healthcare facilities, investing in health facilities in order to meet the increasing needs of the population, developing and nurturing a skilled and motivated healthcare workforce, harnessing the power of technology and data for improved care administration, and ensuring collaboration with the private sector in order to close the discrepancies in the delivery of healthcare services.
Primary care is efficient in treating 80% of the diseases.
He noted that primary care is efficient in treating 80% of the diseases affecting Nigerians and that the country should prioritise preventative measures to limit the spread of these diseases, make all decisions with patients in mind, and improve access to primary care. Social determinants of health, which include poverty, housing instability, and food insecurity, require financial resources. The robust health industry is built on a foundation of research investment, which has led to greater disease understanding, the discovery of effective treatments, and the promotion of innovation in healthcare practices and technologies.
Discussing further the importance of the sector, Dr. Olugbenga Owoye, who is the medical director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, in his remark, characterised member IHSAN as a critical player in the health system. He proceeded to explain that in order to advance the healthcare industry of the country, it is necessary to form collaborative partnerships that involve the government, the private sector, non profitable organizations (NPO) profit, as well as the international community.
Health workers should view themselves as stakeholders in the sector.
Lastly, Mr. Adeyinka Antwi, Director of Administration at Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said that the federal government should harmonise the remuneration of health workers in addition to the allowances in order to mitigate industrial crises in the sector and encourage health workers to view themselves as stakeholders in the sector. He called for an equitable work environment by requiring that all health facilities be built with a specific goal in mind, noting that overlapping responsibilities are a major source of tensions in the healthcare industry.
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IHSAN: Website
