By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions Amos Gwamna Magaji yesterday, disclosed that migration of health workers from Nigeria to other countries in search of greener pastures posses significant challenge to the nation’s health care system.

Magaji spoke just as the Minister of Health, Prof.

Speaking at a public hearing on 16 bills aimed at establishing one health institution or the other, Magaji said the core of the hearing is to provide guidance on the actualization of the Federal Government’s commitment to improve the health care sector through the wide distribution of Healthcare Institutions in Nigeria.

He said that as a result of the growing population, there is need for reference hospitals closer to the people, particularly in rural and suburban areas.

According to him, tertiary health institutions in Nigeria are designed to provide tertiary healthcare services to complement primary and secondary care in the national healthcare system, adding that in order to develop and expand the country’s training institutions and ensure an equitable distribution of health manpower, the Federal Government must balance the inequality in the distribution of tertiary institutions across the country.

He argued that the mass exodus of health workers and professionals to other countries presents a significant challenge to Nigeria’s healthcare sector, saying “recently, there has been an enormous migration of doctors, Nurses and other health workers in search of “greener pastures” in other countries, leaving Nigeria’s health sector severely understaffed.

“The need to reposition the healthcare sector to meet numerous emerging challenges is crucial to its improvement.

“To succeed in this era, a system that is well invested in human resources and medical intelligence as the backbone of the health sector is required. The administrative appointment of capable persons based on merit in hospital management also has a role to play.

“Proper human resource management is critical to providing high-quality health care. Effective human resource management strategies are critical for improving health-care outcomes and access in Nigeria.

“As arguably the most important of the health system inputs, the performance and benefits the system can deliver depend largely on the knowledge, skills, and motivation of those responsible for providing health services.

“It goes without saying therefore, that this aspect of our health sector must be invested in to ensure a thriving and performing sector.

“The structural quality of a health system is heavily influenced by its healthcare infrastructure. As we carried out oversight functions to healthcare institutions across the country since the inauguration of this committee, what are undeniably evident are infrastructural deficiencies of health services, lack of equipment resulting largely from inadequate funding of health institutions by the government, and a total lack of maintenance culture for equipment provided.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Health said health sector research including that of the Cardiology is already taking place in many fronts in Nigeria, while establishing the institute will be an additional financial burden on government, adding that government is cutting down on the cost of governance by pruning down agencies of government.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Dr. Jimoh Olawale Salahudeen, the minister said the ministry remains enthusiastic and supportive of every effort geared towards ensuring growth and progress in the health sector.

He said while the ministry appreciates the effort of the House of the Representative in deepening healthcare services including training and research in the country, cardiovascular research is not in alert level than any other non-communicable diseases to warrant a compelling need for the establishment of National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Research and Treatment Centre, in Kano.

He said, “All the Federal Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres in Nigeria including those in the North West geo-political zone already have the mandate of Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, Research and Training of Health care professional including medical doctors who are specialist in the management of cardiovascular diseases and other related cases.

“The Federal Teaching Hospitals in Northwest geo-political zone include: Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital Kano State, Anmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria Kaduna State, Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto and Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina State, Federal Medical Center (FMC) Azare Bauchi State, FMC Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, FMC Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State, FMC Gusau in Zamfara State.

“These aforementioned existing Federal Tertiary Hospitals (FTHs)’ Cardiovascular Units have not been overstretched nor reportedly underserving the people in the geo-political zone.

“In addition, other State Tertiary Hospitals in this zone complement the effort of the FTHs in responding to some of the specialized cardiovascular cases in this region. These hospitals have not been reported to be underserving the people.

“Furthermore, there is Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba — Lagos, an  agency under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that has been coordinating medical research in the country as it is obtainable in other parts of the world including the USA, UK, Canada, Ghana, Senegal etc.

“Colleges of Health Technology are established to ensure the training of middle level Health Professionals in various fields of health practices Example: Nursing, Radiography, Dental Therapy and Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, amongst others.

“The establishment of Federal College of Health Technology Song, Adamawa State will provide opportunity for the eligible citizens and the people of Adamawa State to have access to health education, leading to the training of more health professionals that will improve the health workforce of the State with a view to curbing the health challenges of people in the grassroots.

“The establishment of the college will further boost economic activities of the area where it is cited.

“The migration of health workers and the epidemics and their emerging trend underscore the need for Nigeria to have enough and efficient health workforce that will be readily available when there are any health emergencies.

“The Federal Ministry of Health has no objection to the establishment of the proposed Federal Tertiary Health Institutions. However, this should be based on merit, considering geographical spread, burden of disease in the proposed location, population density as well as support from the host community and other stakeholders.

“The existing cardiovascular unit in Federal Tertiary Hospital should be strengthened. Government should ensure adequate medical manpower especially during this” period of massive brain drain in the country. Adequate funding of existing cardiology units in all FTHs.

“It is pertinent to note that, there already exist In Adamawa State, the College of Health Technology Michika and College of Health Technology Mubi but they are State owned.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is not averse to the establishing the Federal College of Health Technology Askira-Uba, as it will further boost the training and availability of Health Professional response to emergencies.“However, Health Technology is within the purview of the state.”