Maroc - NEWSLINENG.COM.NG - A La Une - 21/Oct 18:34

Healthcare: Physician calls for total reformed, equipped PHCs

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan The Medical Director of Insignia Health, Dr Olumuyiwa Olusanya, has underscored the need for a total, well equiped Primary HealthCare system for efficient healthcare delivery in Nigeria.Olusanya made the remark on Tuesday at the 2025 Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Physicians’ week Scientific Conference in Ibadan.Olusanya spoke on the theme “Healthcare as a value chain: building efficiency from policy to patient”.He stressed the need to integrate private and general practitioners into the Primary HealthCare system and support them financially.“Once we get it right from the Primary HealthCare sector, we will reposition the entire healthcare sector.“The tertiary healthcare is overcrowded because people are not getting adequate access at the primary healthcare.“The government should ensure that teaching hospitals such as UCH are utilised, it’s not about having more but equipping the ones we already have,” he said.He emphasised the need for the government to create an enabling environment for doctors and invest heavily in healthcare as done in other developed countries to reduce the brain drain  syndrome. Olusanya added that incentives such as cars, free housing, should be provided for doctors working in rural areas to motivate them and reduce rural-urban disparities.The medical expert also called for a national health exchange platform where health information , all records, data would be converged and information would be shared easily and protected.“It will be a critical national asset, the Federal Ministry of health and government agencies will also operate smarter and efficiently,” he said.He stressed that some percentages of the tax being collected by the government could be channelled to national health insurance, adding that in this way, people could contribute indirectly to national development .“The best way to get fund for social Health insurance is through direct and indirect taxes. So a percentage of part of the VAT can be used for health insurance for every Nigerian. “Once people are under the health insurance net, it will better their lots,” he said.The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Abiodun Ilesanmi, a former Chief Medical Director of UCH, Ibadan, remarks that the medical profession is unique and divine.“Medical practitioners should see the profession as a sacred one and see their duty as an answer to God’s call,” he said.Earlier, the Oyo State NMA Chairman, Dr Happy Adedapo said the theme and sub-theme were apt to the Physicians’ profession, hence the reason the association chose them.Adedapo said  that the speakers and chairman are thorough bred professionals chosen to do justice to the topics.Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to Ilesanmi, Olusanya and Dr Temitope Farombi for their immense contribution to the healthcare sector. (NAN)