By David Torough, Abuja

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has warned that drastic actions will be taken against Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of non-performing tertiary health institutions nationwide.

Pate gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja, while fielding questions from newsmen during the third edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS) initiated by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

According to him, the focus of the CMDs should be on providing healthcare services to Nigerians in a respectable manner and anyone found not doing so will be held responsible.

He said “I want to put all federal tertiary hospitals on notice that the Minister of State and myself will make serious surreptitious visits to those facilities to see what they are doing so they should be ready.

“If any of our chief executives does not focus on the quality of care in their hospitals and we see lapses, we will take drastic action against them.

“This is because at the end of the day, these are public institutions and their focus is to provide services to Nigerians and to ensure that Nigerians are respected when they are given those services.”

He, however, said that there had been a significant increase in patient attendance at federal tertiary hospitals, a testament to the improved quality of care and confidence in the healthcare system.

According to him, through targeted investments in infrastructure, technology and human capital, the Federal Government will enhance the capacity of the institutions to deliver specialised medical services.

He added that “the Federal Government will also handle complex health conditions, ensuring that every Nigerian has access to world-class healthcare when needed.

“Our commitment to improving tertiary healthcare services is unwavering. Twelve tertiary hospitals/centres have been earmarked for infrastructure development, including the establishment of oncology centres, radiology centres, and diagnostics facilities.

“These investments will enhance our capacity to provide specialised care and meet the evolving healthcare needs of our people.”

Pate also said that though health workers were facing challenges, the ministry was working hard to remedy them.

He announced that CMDs had been notified to ensure that gunshot victims were treated immediately without having to present a police report.

He added that “on gunshot victims, we have stated it and the Inspector-General of Police also raised it but the issue is the non-public facilities,

the private facilities, some of the state facilities may not be paying enough attention.

“So, I think if we accept as the norm and the press themselves amplify this message that it is not acceptable to lose a life when one can actually save that life.

“We will begin to see change and we call on all health workers to prioritise saving lives.”

While giving account of the ministry’s affairs, he said that through sustained investment and strategic partnerships, it had expanded access to vital healthcare services.

This, he said, was particularly in rural and under-served areas, improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of preventable diseases.

“As a result of our efforts, we have recorded an increase in the proportion of women who attend Ante-Natal Care (ANC).

“Over 550,000 women now attend their first ANC and are armed with the right information and care to improve their pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal and child mortality.”

He, however, said that to sustain and continue to build on those gains, the Federal Government recruited 2,497 doctors, midwives/nurses, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in the last six months to bridge the gaps.

He added that an additional 1,400 health facilities now have Skilled Birth Attendants to assist in deliveries at the health facilities, thereby increasing the number of health facility deliveries to as high as 230,000 deliveries per month.

Pate also said that the Federal Government had made substantial strides in expanding health insurance coverage.

According to him, by supporting enrolment initiatives and streamlining administrative processes, the ministry extended coverage to millions of Nigerians, safeguarding them against the financial hardships associated with healthcare expenses.

“Also, since the beginning of the administration, about 750,000 more Nigerians have been enrolled in health insurance.”

On shortage of healthcare personnel, he said the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), took proactive steps by increasing the number of medical students admitted into medical schools.

On the rising cost of pharmaceuticals as a pressing concern, the minister said that decisive action was being taken to address the issue.

He explained that “an executive order will soon be issued to curb escalating drug prices in the short term, while our mid to long-term goal involves the domestication of imported drugs within the next three years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade.

“In a strategic move to fortify the pharmaceutical infrastructure across the nation, the Federal Government initiated the construction of pharmaceutical-grade warehouses in 21 states in collaboration with Drug Management Agencies.

“Two additional warehouses at the federal level are also underway, complemented by the installation of the Warehousing Management Information System (WMIS) – M Supply, in these 21 pharma-grade warehouses.

“This visionary project which commenced in October 2023 is slated for completion in March, with a scheduled commissioning in April.”

Pate also said that the implementation of WMIS is expected to significantly enhance accountability and transparency, ensuring the potency of public health medicines and other health commodities.

He said the Federal Government had led the development of the maiden National Policy on Cosmetics Safety in Nigeria, a crucial policy that would guide the production and safe use of cosmetics in the country.

He, therefore, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to advancing the health and well-being of every Nigerian.

He said the government remained steadfast in its resolve to build a healthier, more resilient nation, and would continue to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels to achieve its shared vision of a thriving healthcare system for all.