LAGOS – Former National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele, on Friday urged the Federal Government to begin implementation of the [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
National Health Act to improve the nation’s health sector.
Enabulele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Act would reduce the frequent trip abroad for medical care for conditions that could be managed in Nigeria.
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“The National Health Act, if truly implemented in 2015, will fundamentally affect the health landscape.
“For instance, the area of reducing the scourge of medical tourism on account of the very unnecessary flight abroad in the name of foreign medical care for conditions that can even be managed in our country.
“If that provision as provided for in the National Health Act is fully implemented, we may see a decline from the capital flight.
“Nigeria, as at today, is losing well over one billion dollars on account of medical tourism.
“It used to be over 800 million dollars as far back as 2012, and so now, the figures have even gone higher than that.
“So, the implementation of the National Health Act will clearly define events, issues, development and indeed the fortune of the health sector.
“It may not meet the total aspirations and expectations of Nigerians, but at least, it will expectedly move the health sector with the hope of moving it further upward.“
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NAN reports that President Goodluck Jonathan had on Dec. 9, 2014 signed the National Health Bill into law. (NAN)