The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Tajudeen Abbas has acknowledged the importance and significance of having a Health Sector that works.
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He said that Western countries have taken bold steps to make their Health sector first class and second to none and Nigeria must do the same.
The speaker made the observations while declaring open, a Public Hearing by the House Committee on Healthcare Services, on four bills, in Abuja.
He said that though the Federal
Government appropriates a considerable amount yearly to the Health sector, the amount is still grossly inadequate and far below what is invested in other countries.
” It is no longer news that despite the committed efforts, the Health Sector has sadly over the years faced several challenges associated with outbound medical tourism, emigration of skilled healthcare workers, poor salaries and insufficient budgetary allocation.
” It is also sad to note that even though Nigeria has the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa the progress it has achieved in health has been rather slow and disappointing hence, more effort is needed if we are going to be at par with Western countries. Indeed more needs to be done if the life expectancy of the average Nigerian is to rise as well as a reduction in infant mortality. Recognizing the urgency of this situation, the Mr. President, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has prioritized healthcare as one of the pillars of his Renewed hope Agenda for Nigeria, in order to revive the country’s healthcare sector and to ensure it receives the necessary support partnerships with the private sector within and outside Nigeria are being explored and hopefully in the not too distant future we shall see vast improvement”. Mr. Abbas said.
He added that the House Committee on Healthcare Services and other Health related Committees of the House of Representatives and indeed the National Assembly are fully committed to doing their part by initiating and amending laws that will always be people friendly with the aim of bringing succor and positive changes towards the Health sector in Nigeria.
The Acting Chairman House Committee on Healthcare Services, Mr. Bassey Akiba, said that the hearing was aimed at achieving better health healthcare for Nigerians.
He said that the healthcare system in Nigeria has gone through a mirage of challenges in the last few years and need to be looked into.
The Chairman listed the bills for hearing as: “A Bill For An Act To Amend The National Residency Training Act, 2018 (НB.725)”, “А Bill For An Act To Amend The National Insurance Authority Act, 2021 (HB.803)”, “А Bill To Amend The National Tobacco Control Act (Hbs, 47 & 1151)” And A Bill For An Act To Establish Institute Of Health Service Administrators Of Nigeria (HB.935)”
The Bill To Amend The National Tobacco Control Act (Hbs, 47 & 1151) had the most reactions for and against.
Stakeholders at the public hearing gave reasons why the bills should be passed in the interest of the Nigerian health sector.
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