Stakeholders Task Guber Candidates On Healthcare

As parts of efforts to reposition the Lagos State health sector, the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), in collaboration with the UHC 2023 Forum, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the Media, have appealed to governorship candidates to prioritise healthcare in their development agenda.
The appeal was made at a one-day advocacy stakeholder’s forum with all the gubernatorial candidates, sequel to recent happenings within the sector.
The forum sought to deepen the understanding of the political class and other stakeholders on the health security gaps and acquaint them with available strategic policy options for strengthening health policy and financing options.
The forum, which also encouraged the candidates to prioritise health security in their development agenda, obtained signed commitments from them towards enhanced prioritisation of the sector in government’s spending.
In his opening remarks, the LISDEL Project Director, Prevent Epidermics Project, Dr. Gafar Alawode, noted that in charting a course of action for translating the candidates’ commitments into actions and engendering accountability for the fulfillment of their commitments, any turnaround in policy has to be backed by the political class, else it dies on arrival.
Chairman, NMA, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, lamented that healthcare workers are under threat in Lagos, as their members were being harassed, maimed and even killed regularly.
”It saddens me to say that we lost 1,800 doctors to the UK and other countries as at last month.
“This has crossed alarming levels now and we need to ask how these candidates would ensure healthcare workers remain in the country, earn fair pay and better working conditions.
“The brain drain is alarming, skilled workers are leaving Nigeria for greener pastures and it’s worrying”, he said.
Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LASCOP) Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye, on his part said since the state has the largest concentration of private sector, there is no reason that health financing cannot work.
The Secretary, NMA, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Ismail Ajibowo, in setting the objectives of the forum, urged the candidates to divulge their plans for the healthcare delivery system in Lagos, how they intend to realise it, and sign a pledge to be held accountable when they assume office later this year.
Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Makinde Akinlemibola, who spoke on “Lagos State Health Sector Reform: Challenges and Prospects,” revealed that over 50 percent of their members have left the country with more on their way out and not because of remuneration alone.

“The system is broken and needs urgent reform. We need to retain our health workers still left here and treat them better.

“Over 70 percent of Nigerians still use private healthcare and we’re doing the best we can without government support of any kind.

“Health is a social capital and government alone cannot fund the healthcare sector but it still can’t be totally commercialized.

“To this end, we need to put in place policies and laws that will bring funds into the sector. Government needs to be more proactive.

“Some of the laws we have presently in this sector, including the health reform laws, were made without the input of private practitioners and they affect us negatively.

“Also, health workers are not well protected within the law. Health workers need improved remuneration, better working conditions and full medical insurance to enable them put in their best”, Akinlemibola stated.

Presenting a paper on Lagos state healthcare reform: challenges and prospects, Chairman, Medical Guild, Dr SF Ahmad, said while the prospects are promising and bright, the reforms and law still has challenges including financing, human resource management, health facilities regulation