House of Reps. C’tee pledges to end medical tourism
By Folasade Akpan
The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions has promised to put an end to medical tourism and attract development of the health sector in the country.
The Chairman House Committee on Health Institutions, Hon. Amos Magaji, made the promise when he led members on an oversight visit to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada on Friday.
Magaji, who commended President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency on health, also promised to change the analogue attitude and approach to the administration of health, among many others in Nigeria’s health sector to a digitised era.
He applauded the management of the hospital “for reflecting Federal Character in the appointment of top management staff.”
The lawmaker also told the management of the hospital to lookout for the committee’s routine and unannounced visits, intended to address the problems of public hospitals across the country.
Magaji said: “we will not announce our visits, we will improve our oversight functions to the hospital, so, be ready to see more of us going forward.”
The chairman added that the committee, which consists of more than 40 members in the 10th assembly are experienced, including medical personnel and ranking status to mitigate and improve the activities of medical services in the country.
He commended the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Bissala Ekele, for a multi media presentation and articulation of its activities in the last few years, adding that the committee would adopt same model in other parts of the country.
In his remarks, Ekele said the hospital has improved from the previous 350-bed space to over 500 beds in the last few years.
He, however, requested the committee to prevail on the executive to provide MRI machines and improve power supply in the hospital, among many others.
He also appealed to the lawmakers to contribute their quota through constituency projects to help improve health services.
The committee members, along with the management of the hospital inspected some completed projects which include the new Mental Health Building, the renovated children’s ward, department of pharmaceutical services, and the female medical and surgical ward.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
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