Health care endowment fund will make Oyo State a medical Mecca —Dr Olaosebikan

A former Commissioner of Health in Kwara State and CEO of Health care communications limited, Dr Bola Olaosebikan, is also the health consultant for Oyo State’s proposed N50 billion healthcare endowment fund. He unveils how Oyo state is on the track to revamping its healthcare sector in this interview with VERA ONANA.

How would the proposed Oyo state endowment fund solve the health problems of Oyo people?

I must say that the endowment fund Oyo state is about to launch is another pace setter in Nigeria and in Africa which is typical of Oyo as the pace setter state. I must commend the Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for coming up with an idea that focuses on an alternative way of funding health care in Oyo state.

We all know that the economy is bad and no matter how much of the budget is allocated to health, it will never be enough.  So, the governor of Oyo state, decided that what the state needs now is to have an alternative funding system for the health sector. This is apart from the health insurance scheme that has been introduced in the state that should be commended. There is universal coverage in Oyo state whereby you pay N200 for a whole year and get free healthcare no matter the amount of treatment.

In addition to that, the governor thought about the hospitals, its structure, the facilities and it was obvious that there is need for increased funding. So, he decided inject 50 billion naira to turn around the health system in the state which is the restoration and transformation agenda of Governor Ajimobi for health in Oyo state and will be launched anytime from now.

Where is this N50 Billion coming from?

The governor believes that he has the good will to get funding from voluntary people both in Nigeria and internationally. Healthcare communication limited is consulting for Oyo state, which makes me the consultant for Oyo state on this project.

All over the world, this is an idea that is used but in Nigeria, we are always late in doing things and when it is done it may not be done properly. I want to commend the governor of Oyo state that proper steps were taken before we were appointed.

We went through a lot of screening and the due process as insisted by the governor.  Healthcare communications is committed to work with everybody to raise this N50 billion. We believe in the credibility of the governor and as a jinx breaker, we believe he will break the bounds of underdevelopment in health care.

What set of people are you targeting to raise this money?

We have our strategy. We have our blueprint but when you are fighting a war, you do not disclose your plans. But we have started reaching out to people and we are getting very positive responses from Chamber of Commerce, cooperate organisations, financial institutions, banks and oil companies. The governor being a financial expert is giving us a lot of support and a lot of push. We are banking on his goodwill and on the people of Oyo state,. People are ready to invest in the State.

Oyo state is now an investment destination and we also want it to become a medical tourism destination in Nigeria and in Africa. We have a very active ministry of health in Oyo state and a very dynamic commissioner, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan. We are getting a lot of support from the ministry of health and the commissioner they are working very hard. We have a 10-point strategy to raise this 50 billion naira.

Would this transformation be focused only the state hospitals or would it be extended to private practices in the state as well?

What we would be doing would be a public-private partnership. The governor is the father of all whether public or private. We have a government that wants to turn around all the health institutions in Oyo state. The government will start with the state hospitals, all the general hospitals will be touched in all the 33 local governments. Health centres will be renovated and the Oyo standard for health care will be upgraded.

When we talk about our medical system, so much is wrong. Talking about personnel, structure, equipment, facility to do some surgeries …so what exactly should people expect?

The benefit of this N50 billion endowment fund that governor of Oyo state is set to launch anytime from now includes infrastructural renewal of hospitals. The governor has decided that there will be infrastructural renewal of hospitals and all general hospitals in Oyo state will be rehabilitated and renovated.

All the specialist hospitals will be renovated as well as the health centres and maternity homes. No area in Oyo state will be neglected. Dr Adeduntan has taken steps by going round to inspect. He is working hard to give new standards and anytime soon, the private hospitals will begin to improve. All hospitals in Oyo state will be re-registered and through that registration process, the quacks will be flushed out. Quacks are causing a lot of danger in Nigeria but Oyo state will eradicate them.

The infrastructural renewal is the number one benefit of the endowment fund. Another benefit is that, through it, Oyo state will have the first cardiovascular centre in Nigeria and in Africa. There are so many people dying suddenly now and Oyo state doesn’t want that. The state would be setting up an iconic international standard cardiovascular centre.

He is going to put a lot of work in the cardiovascular centre and it would be a legacy of this administration. Part of the plan would be capacity building. There would be training both locally and abroad so that personnel and infrastructure can give super output. The governor is interested in opening up the state for investors especially in the area of health. Health industries can then produce some tools instead of importing all the time and this will also create job opportunities. This package will turn the state around not only via the health sector but in tourism, industrialisation, employment and capacity building. The governor is putting it as one of his top priorities. So, between now and 2019, a new health care system will be delivered.

How accessible would this health care be, would the average Nigerian be able to afford it?

As far as he is concerned, the masses must feel the impact of whatever he is doing. He does not believe in putting the elite first. He would rather put the masses first. The governor mandated blood screening in Oyo state and it is free. Once you can screen your blood, you have taken the first step in prevented heart disease. The governor has approved a package of health education programmes by the Ministry of health and the commissioner has launched the programme about compulsory blood pressure test in Oyo state.

Once you can control blood pressure, then there will be less cases of heart diseases. This is a step in the right direction by touching everyone. Once revived, the primary health centres would be able to handle some cases before referral is made, if need be.

Is this project targeted only at the indigenes of Oyo State?

For as long as you are contributing to the growth and development of Oyo State, you are automatically a beneficiary regardless of your tribe. The governor does not believe in discrimination. All he wants is that people should be responsible citizens of the state and be law abiding as they continue to contribute to the economic growth of the state.

Would treatment be on subsidised basis or at no cost at all?

It would be subsidised. The governor has introduced the health insurance of 200 Naira per person and that is the health card in Oyo state. Once you take that to the hospital, you would not be asked to pay. It used to be no money, no treatment but the health insurance has put an end to that. Once you have the card, the bill for payment would be sent to the scheme because you have contributed to the Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO).

What plan for sustainability is on ground for this project?

The ministry of health would be supervising this project and Health Care Communications Limited would be consulting for the State Government. We have been in operation for 30 years. This shows that when we have a project we can stay through. The governor would set up a trust fund and credible people will be in the fund management. We have also been told that the money will be in a dedicated account and it would only be used for health and nothing else.