By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria – Prof. Abdulmuminu Rafindadi, former vice chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi, on Thursday advocated for holistic measures to end medical tourism by Nigerians.
He fielded questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after declaring open an Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.
The conference with a theme: “Legislation and Medicine: The Impact of Effective Legislation on the Quality of Healthcare in Nigeria”, was organised by Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), ABUTH branch.
Rafindadi, who is also the former Chief Medical Director (CMD), ABUTH, and Chairman of the occasion, said the call became imperative in view of the fact that medical tourism had become a passion for Nigerians.
“The attitude of Nigerians seeking medication abroad requires urgent intervention from the Federal Government, because some sickness can be treated here in Nigeria.
“Though Nigerian health sector requires a lot of money and the country is in recession, yet government need to do something to address the problem,” he said.
Rafindadi also recommended Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the sector, saying government alone will not be able to take care of everything “as far as health is concerned”.
Also, the ARD President, Dr Waziri Aliyu-Dahiru, called on the federal government to ensure implementation of National Health Act which had been passed into law to curb health indices in the country.
He appealed to foreign nationals, corporate organisations, well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists to come to the aid of sector through partnership or donation to ensure healthcare delivery becomes universal.
Aliyu-Dahiru enumerated some challenges of the association to include dwindling sponsorship for residency examination as residency training was not sufficient and infrastructural decay, among others.
“As I am talking to you, we are still awaiting time table for residency. As you all know, the residency training is what pave way for the production of consultants.
“Let me also appeal to the federal government for speedy implementation of all agreements,” he pleaded.
Alhaji Mohammed Dan’asabe-Chokali, member representing Zaria-Waje at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, promised to sponsor bills that would promote good healthcare facilities across the state.
He appealed to resident doctors to sustain the tempo of providing adequate assistance to patients.
