Improving patient’s attendance my priority —UITH Acting CMD

Acting Chief Medical Director, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Professor Mikhail Olayinka Buhari has said that his vision for the hospital is to ensure it delivers quality patient-friendly, affordable healthcare services.

Professor Buhari, who spoke at the inaugural meeting of the hospital’s 9th Board at the hospital, said this will be achieved through high performing and motivated staff as well as by using cutting-edge technology in the face of dwindling resources.

Buhari, a consultant anatomical pathologist, said the hospital was currently facing many challenges, including dwindling financial resources, ageing infrastructures, and equipment, frequent industrial unrests, with the consequent reduction in client confidence and patronage, as well as fund constraint limiting much-needed expansion and innovation.

According to him, a well-articulated plan to address these multi-faceted challenges had been developed, adding that implementing the plan will, however, require a disciplined yet flexible implementation strategy.

He added, “The strategic direction will be implemented through four interventional pillars based on strong systems for governance, performance measurement, and management, capacity building, financial management, accountability and value for money principles.”

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To facilitate optimal patient outcomes, he declared that he will be focusing on ensuring highly-motivated, well-trained and high performing personnel through continuous professional education for all categories of health workers as well as institute strong performance monitoring and management and disciplinary system.

He assured of prompt attention to staff promotions and welfare issues, provision of a conducive work environment and appropriate work tools as well as facilitate good interpersonal relationships in the hospital to reduce work stoppages and strikes.

A robust revenue generation strategy, he said was imperative and will be achieved by securing alternative sources of finances, adding that this will go a long way to implement projects, reduce overheads and increase revenues.

While planning intra-mural practices to increase patient volume and therefore the Internally Generated Revenue, he said efforts will also be put to the marketing of the hospital services and quality service delivery during his tenure.