Health sector reform: Bowen VC calls for synergy among medical practitioners

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Bowen University, Iwo, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, has advised all medical practitioners in the Nigerian health sector to collaborate in their attempt to reform the country’s health sector.

Professor Ogunwole gave this advice at the 5th induction ceremony of the medical graduating students of the institution, held recently.

According to him, any effort put in place by the medical practitioners to foster unity in service delivery at all levels would enhance efficiency in the healthcare sector and the development would go a long way to boost productivities in the system.

His word: “If there is anything I honestly wish for, among all the healthcare practitioners, it is unity and purposeful collaboration, a non-discriminating system of operation. This is because, over the years, I have noticed the unhelpful, unproductive dichotomy between medical doctors and other health personnel in the sector. We must remember that all members of the body are interconnected.

“In an ideal environment, Bowen University is advocating for a student of medicine and surgery to see a student of nursing science, pharmacists, and others as fellow practitioners in the medical field, working together as a team in the sector without discrimination. Because of the sensitivity of your service to humanity, as health officers in the community, you must dissociate yourself from unnecessary agitation and complaints without proffering solutions that are well thought out.”

While the VC commended the parents for their contributions to ensure that their children were inducted as medical doctors today, he enjoined the newly licensed medical doctors to explore new frontiers of knowledge and become distinguished professional and practitioners in the field.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Provost, College of Health Science of the institution, Professor Samuel Eyesan, thanked the university administration for its determination to build a medical school in which the products would practice medicine with godliness and excellence. He disclosed that the university has committed resources to the development of other programmes in the college, which he said included medical laboratory, science nutrition and dietetics and public health.

While he urged the new inductees to serve the world with all levels of integrity and with the fear of God, he appealed to Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to increase the college’s quota to 75 as the college is endowed with facilities to accommodate them.

Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Olubanjo Otegbayo in his lecture entitled: “Medical Practice in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: The Role of Young Doctors in Effecting the Change,” encouraged the inductees to set out as early as possible on the path of specialization through the residency training programme as a way to be relevant and effect change in the system.

He noted that a sizeable number of health workers had lost their lives in the line of duty during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said called for eternal vigilance and stringent practice of preventive measure that are well known to be effective in protecting the care–providers

According to him, health education is still a strong pillar in curbing the spread of COVID-19, stressing that physicians needed to be proficient in soft skills, which he said include communication, self-motivation, leadership, responsibility, teamwork, problem-solving, decisiveness, ability to work under pressure and time management.

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