UCH to tap expertise of doctors in Diaspora on killer diseases

University College Hospital (UCH) has signed an MOU to ensure expertise of medical doctors in Diaspora is better tapped to improve care of the four major killer diseases in Nigeria and checkmate medical tourism.

UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge made this known at an interactive session of between the hospital and Centre for Medical Information and Professional Development (CMIPD), an NGO, recently.

Professor Alonge stated that the collaboration was to ensure the merge of clinical acumen of doctors in the hospital with knowledge of technology of doctors in Diaspora to advance the care patients at the hospital.

Alonge stated that knowledge–based in medicine as well as clinical care is very good, but that technology is essential to ensure furtherance of healthcare services to patients.

According to him, “we want proper integration of technology along with clinical practice and then work a way out by which we can look after our clients. Nigerians are different from whites. Although their diseases might be similar but the presentation may be different.”

He, however, urged that the Federal government provide a structured revenue base or budget line for Diasporas integration, saying this had helped developed countries to better tap into the expertise of its citizens abroad to build their health sector, too.

Professor Alonge declared that such a budget line would also ensure that teaching hospitals can bring in medical doctors in Diaspora for a longer time for training of experts as well.

Dr Segun Alawale, CMIPD’s Chairman said that the collaboration was to ensure medical doctors in Diaspora gives back to their country both in terms of training and clinical practice, and thus improve quality of healthcare delivery.

Alawale noted that the NGO was to serve as a platform for doctors from developed countries to come and help and that UCH, Ibadan is being used for its pilot scheme.

He declared; “the goal is to make it go round other hospitals and that it become a national programme so that as a country we can take advantage of our people in Diaspora. But we need to organise them.”

He also assured of the NGO’s support for treating indigent patients and equipments to hospitals in the country.