Dirisu Yakubu
The Federal Government has been urged by the House of Representatives to take advantage of the Public Private Partnership to address challenges in the nation’s healthcare delivery system.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion titled, ‘Need to utilise Public Private Partnership to bridge the gap in the healthcare system in Nigeria’, moved by the member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze Federal Constituency, Enugu State, Mr Chidi Obetta, on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday.
Recall that there have been criticisms by critical stakeholders about the state of healthcare delivery in the country, with some calling for a total overhaul of the structures at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Moving the motion at a session presided over by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, Obetta quoted World Health Organisation statistics as ranking Nigeria’s healthcare system 157 out of 176, even as he argued that the nation’s healthcare system “Faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and a shortage of trained professionals, which are further exacerbated by the continuous migration of healthcare professionals.”
The lawmaker added that a transparent PPP and service coverage “will ensure that healthcare services are accessible and will address the out-of-pocket expenses while ensuring that private sector partners meet high standards of service quality.”
He argued that formulating policies on healthcare services through public-private partnerships can enhance accessibility and address financing issues in Nigeria, thereby enhancing the healthcare system’s strategic and dynamic nature.
Thereafter, the House mandated its Committee on Healthcare Services to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health and “Develop a policy framework that will provide for the utilization of PPP in healthcare financing in Nigeria.”
It also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
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