Chairman, Oyo NMA, Dr Akin Sodipo made this known at a press conference in Ibadan to flag off the association’s 2018 physician week with the theme as:“Universal Health Coverage: Leaving no One Behind” in Ibadan.
Sodipo, who was joined by the association’s general secretary, Dr Seun Adebayo; vice chairman, Dr Ayotunde Fasunla; Dr Olabisi Oseghe and Dr Ibiyemi Oduyemi during the press briefing, stated NMA’s assessment of the scheme’s enrolment in the past one year found it still abysmal low.
According to him, despite the scheme’s 11 years of existence, its current enrolment was still less than 5 per cent, and so healthcare delivery in Nigeria was still largely out of pocket.
ALSO READ: Impeachment: The waiting game between Ambode, Lagos lawmakers
Sodipo said that in addressing Nigeria’s abysmal poor health indices, there is the urgent need to improve enrolment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from the current less than 5 per cent coverage.
He declared; “Nigerians are increasingly losing hope in NHIS as a tool which is vital to the attainment of universal health coverage. To achieve universal health coverage, it is therefore important to strengthen the NHIS and explore other healthcare financing system like the community-based health insurance which some states have keyed into.”
Oyo NMA boss, while calling for increased political will for quality and effective health services in Nigeria, called for urgent equipping of the nation’s primary healthcare centres while considering offering free medical services for the aged, women and children.
He also clamoured for firm implementation of the National Health Act 2014, which prescribes the minimum acceptable standard of healthcare as he reiterates the right of Nigerians to a minimum package of health services.
He, however, decried security agencies frustrating the efforts of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, NMA and other associations in a bid to rid the medical profession of quackery in the country.
He stated: “It is also on record that previous efforts by the MDCN to prosecute suspects have been frustrated by security agencies that are saddled with such responsibilities.
“We also have cases where some of our state branches have raised the alarm on the activities of suspected quacks and impersonators, but the state security apparatus has not helped matters.
“Another reason for the inability of the MDCN to tackle medical quackery-related practices is the failure of the Federal Government to constitute the council.”
Sodipo urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency constitute the MDCN and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria boards in the interest of Nigerians.
He maintained that: “The NMA in line with best practices introduced Doctor’s stamp in 2017 to help check the proliferation of quackery and related practices. We, therefore, enjoin all medical and dental practitioners to key into this strategic anti-quackery measure in order to safeguard the health of Nigerians.”
and then