Oyo government launches logo to authenticate good hospitals, boost healthcare service

Oyo State government, on Monday, launched a logo for private health facilities and universal referral form to identify good hospitals, reduce quackery in practice in the healthcare delivery system and boost the state’s health status.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Adebamwo Adeosun, said the WHO’s standard uniform referral form is henceforth to be used by all health facilities, including private hospitals, in the state.

The governor declared that the newly introduced form is to ensure a quick undelayed referral and reception of patients for quick and spontaneous attention to patients.

The governor, noting that the programmes will contribute immensely to efficient and qualitative health care delivery in the state said the government was to engage in a public-private partnership to drive the state’s healthcare delivery.

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According to him, “our attention is also brought to the rate of petitions in the health sector, throughout the country particularly in Oyo State across both private and public health facilities.

“Our focus is to provide an all-inclusive healthcare package and safeguard the lives of the citizens of the state. The functioning of the health system depends on the drive and efficiency of its workforce, operating in a supportive and conducive environment.”

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, who spoke on medico-legal issues at the event said the public persecution department was pursuing cases against some doctors, urging them to always comply with 2018 Patient’s Bill of Right.

According to him, patients have the right to life, private and family rights, freedom of thoughts, conscience and religion as well as from discrimination.

Professor Oyewo, who spoke through the Ministry of Justice’s Director of Legal Drafting and Parliamentary Counselling. Mr Olatunji Thomas, patients have the right to life, have access to their medical cases notes and be treated in a dignified manner.

He said doctor’s first responsibility is to save lives, and so they should be transparent in billing patients so as not to further scar them

Health Commissioner, Dr Bashir Bello, assured that the logo will help identify registered private health facilities, including medical laboratories, by the state government that have qualified medical practitioners to attend to health challenges.

Dr Bello, who said individuals are free to put a call to the Ministry of Health to verify the authenticity of the logos with the numbers on them urged medical doctors to practice with integrity while avoiding medicolegal issues.