Don stresses importance of hospital administrators to quality health services

HEAD, Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Osungbade has stressed the potential of hospital administrators for improving the quality of health services in Nigerian hospitals

Osungbade spoke at a symposium to mark the retirement of the hospital’s seventh director of administration, Dr Adeyemi Shiyanbola, titled ‘Hospital Administration as a Career: The Nigerian Experience.’

The don said although the concept of career hospital administration is relatively new in Nigeria, hospital administrators are trained and are able to provide an environment that promotes effective and efficient health services.

Professor Osungbade said the profession is scarce in Nigeria’s health sector because it has no service scheme at the federal government level and in many states despite its great potential for improving the quality of health services.

Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Professor Abiodun Ilesanmi, described Dr Shiyanbola, outgoing director of administration, as someone that had impacted many lives in his professional journey.

“He had used his position while working at UCH, Ibadan, to transform the hospital and its people. Some people are brilliant but not approachable; but he had combined the two attributes and was always ready to assist people,” he added.

Professor Abiodun Otegbayo, UCH’s Chief Medical Director, described him as someone that developed himself and others, adding “he came in as a clerical officer and rose to the pinnacle of his career. He served selflessly; he was loyal to this institution and affected many lives.”