Prof. Innocent Ujah, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Jos University Teaching Hospital, has advocated for establishment of health bank to provide funds for investments in the sector.
The former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) said that the bank should be established like Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.
He stated that the bank would help in setting up standard and well equipped facilities in the country to reduce medical tourism overseas.
“In places like India where we go for medical treatment, almost all the hospitals are privately-owned.
“The Bank of Health like Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture will help doctors and other health workers to access loans at reduced rates to put up state-of-the-art hospitals.
“The hospitals will be well equipped, with adequate staff that is well paid to do the work that they travel to America, Europe and India to do,’” the expert said.
He noted that it would enhance the quality of healthcare delivery and also reverse brain drain and medical tourism.
“Because they are going there because of the facilities and the need to continue to train.
“People will get loans and there will be consortium or consortia that will be put together by health workers including non health workers,” he said.
According to him, patients were suffering and some have died due to lack of quality healthcare system.
Ujah expressed worry over the poor status of healthcare system but assured he would use his over 40-years experience in the profession to work with government to ensure improvement.
“I believe that working with government and other partners should be able to improve health status.
“In doing so, we will ensure that the welfare of the doctors is preserved.
“For the young ones who are in training, there should be conducive environment for them to train as residents,” he said.
On the NMA election, Ujah assured his colleagues that if given mandate he would serve with an unflinching commitment and an abiding passion.
NAN reports that the NMA election is slated for May 31
