Health
Ministerial Screening: Tunji Alausa Explains How Nigeria Can Fix Troubled Health Sector
Eko Hot Blog reports that Tunji Alausa, a nephrologist, has explained how Nigeria can rescue its health sector, stating that the country needs to operate a private sector-driven healthcare economy to fix the troubled sector.
Alausa, a ministerial nominee, gave the explanation on Friday during his screening exercise before the Senate.
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Eko Hot Blog had reported on Wednesday that President Bola Tinubu nominated the Epe-born physician as minister.
Responding to questions posed to him by senators, Alausa stressed the need for government at all levels and the private sector to partner in providing massive infrastructural development in the health sector.
The United States-based medical doctor noted that the only way to stop the brain drain in the health sector, popularly called “Japa,” is to provide an enabling environment to health practitioners.
The ministerial nominee from Lagos further stated that everything is not about money, but when there are adequate infrastructure and enabling empowerment, no health provider would wish to leave his country because they are trained to take care of humanity.
Also, talking about the negligence of medical practitioners in the course of their duties, Alausa lamented that unlike what is obtainable abroad, the National Health Council is no longer functioning.
“It is the responsibility of the medical board to take up any case of negligence on the part of health workers, but regrettably, it is no longer working. That is why cases of negligence are not being addressed,” he stressed.
The nephrologist also revealed that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has failed in its mandate to regulate the prevalence of fake drugs in the country, adding that the regulatory agency needs urgent reform.
Alausa, who noted that Nigeria’s healthcare system is “really suboptimal,” said the country needs to build a quality regulatory body to “take care” and tackle the fake drugs in pharmaceutical stores across the country.
“With regards to NAFDAC, it is sad to say that beyond these fake pharmaceutical companies, these drugs are killing our people,” he said.
“A lot of people are developing kidney failure because of counterfeit drugs. This is even causing more morbidity in our society.
“It is very unfortunate to say today that NAFDAC is not functioning the way it should be. It’s not functioning.
“If given the opportunity, that will be one of the first agencies that I will totally reform. It’s not functioning. NAFDAC is not doing its work.”
The ministerial hopeful said all pharmacies in the country should be regulated and monitored and the licence of the practitioners revoked if found wanting.
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Alausa added that in the Western world, every healthcare facility has a licence to do business, adding that such licences have different layers.
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