Nigerian Hospitals Need Urgent Changes

0

A hospital

Experts meeting in Lagos, South West Nigeria for the ninth West African Conference & Exhibition (WAH 2013) have said the managers of hospitals in Nigeria and other West African countries must assume the driver?s seat to be able to make any positive change in the healthcare delivery systems in the sub-region.
The experts, who made this known at the special session for Chief Executive Officers (Hospital?s CEOs forum) at WAH 2013, pointed out the poor state of infrastructure in countries like Nigeria as a major impediment to making the health system work for better and affordable healthcare delivery for the people, a reason quacks have continued to have field days.
Speaking during the side workshop at the meeting and exhibition of medical products and services, CEO, Mecure Healthcare LTD, Mr. Anil Grover, noted that Nigeria is faced with various shades of infrastructure challenges that have affected the quality of health services accessed by the populace.
Listing some of these challenges, he said: ?Nigeria is faced with power shortage, huge medical technology gaps as well as manpower challenges.?
He, however, noted that the fast pace of changes occurring in the country would require a commensurate measure of action from managers of health institutions for Nigerians to really benefit of the high quality healthcare as seen in developed countries.
?Remarkable changes are occurring in political and economic environment, demographic and epidemiological scenario in the country that requires healthcare facilities and hospitals to also change roles,? Grover noted.
He said behaviours towards healthcare approach, mindset of healthcare professionals and investments in healthcare business are changing, hence the need for stronger Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the sector.
He also noted that incentives should be introduced into the system to attract Diaspora medical professionals, in which case he has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry of Finance to support banks with low interest rates on advance medical technologies and equipment.
Also, Dr Folarin Olowu, of Interlift, Lagos, has said there is a need for top level management of hospitals in the country to take critical look at all sides that define the system with greater emphasis on improvement at this time.
He said the big or external picture, which focuses on what clients or patients see as well as the internal picture, which is what the CEOs and the hospital staff must see are critical to improving the entire health system in the country.
?A lot of clinical mind is focused on patients. But remember the clients, which include the HMOs, and others. They are not sick but need your attention as well,? Olowu said during his presentation at WAH 2013.
He said: ?If exterior is shabby, staff is poor and little technology is deployed, then patients will not come to your hospital, and your revenue will not grow.?
According to him, the days of sole ownership of hospitals are gone, saying, ?You need a company or an organisation with a qualitative board,? while stressing the importance of the board of management of the hospital.

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here