Minister Identifies Obsolete Equipment As Bane Of Health Sector
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has identified poor funding, brain drain and lack of modern facilities as major impediments to quality healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.
He stated this at the 13th Biennial Delegates Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Thursday, in Kano.
The theme of the conference is: “Medical Education in Nigeria at a Crossroads, Challenges of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education and Way Forward.”
Represented by the Chief Medical Director, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr Abdurrahman Sheshe, the minister enjoined medical practitioners to support the government, as it could not do it all alone.
His words: “I recognise the fact that there are problems facing the medical sector in the country that include poor funding, brain drain, lack of facilities, obsolete equipment, lack of enough workers and facilities, especially in the rural areas.
“All these are part of what the current administration is working to change to enhance qualitative healthcare delivery.
“The situation has caused a lot of problems that have to do with maternal mortality and many others.” According to him, the Federal Government is working with all those that are willing to contribute towards addressing the problems, especially the MDCAN.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, who opened the event, pledged to work with the medical personnel to enhance quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.He was represented by the Executive Director of Kano State Private Health Institutions Management Agency, Prof. Salisu Ahmed.
Also, the ex-President, National Postgraduates Medical College, Prof. Musa Muhammad, decried the dearth of manpower, stressing the need for practical measures to address the myriad of problems bedeviling the health sector. Earlier, president of the association, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, described the event as ‘important and timely.”
