Health: Stakeholders Demand Federal, State Government Collaboration

Stakeholders in the health sector have called for better collaboration between federal and state agencies to improve healthcare provision in the country.

In an interview with Prime Business Africa, the Commissioner for Health, Ekiti State, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said government at both federal and state levels should put more effort into healthcare through proper funding.

The commissioner said “the government has been involved in health matters in all spectrum, what needs to be done is to ensure proper coordination on federal and state levels.”

Filani noted that expenditure at the federal and state levels had not been properly maximised.

He however commended some states for working in the right direction.

“As a country, there is need for a regulatory framework policy, strengthening institutions like national insurance at the federal and state levels to set up insurance for health,” he said.

According to the commissioner, Ekiti State has put its health insurance agency – Ekiti State Health Insurance Agency – in place and incentives are aligned with the goal of the agency which is mainly more healthcare for the people.

The President, Association of Resident Doctors, Hassan Oluwafemi, noted that to achieve a healthy population, there must be an efficient healthcare system.

“Healthcare is grossly underfunded in Nigeria, just 4% of the budget is allocated to health and it is insufficient for sustainability. Most hospitals lack amenities and that is why these politicians can’t make use of them,” he said.

The Secretary, Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Samuel Okediran, stated that “government cannot finance health and other ways needs to be thought of so that the sector can stay afloat.”