President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday lamented the fact that Nigeria still has the largest number of people in Africa travelling out of their country for medical attention.
The President said the scale of capital flight lost to the development, which has come to be known as medical tourism, was enormous and unjustifiable.
“We still have the largest number of people in Africa and the developed world, travelling out of the country to seek health services. The scale of capital flight lost to medical tourism is enormous, not justifiable, and needs to be speedily addressed for the survival and development of our local health practitioners and industry,” he said at a presidential summit on Universal Health Coverage in Abuja.
The President, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said that whereas the country had made progress but that the nation was not where it ought to be in health care coverage.
He said while the country’s health insurance programme had been mostly successful with federal employees and private health insurance for the organised private sector, it was unacceptable that there were still several pilot schemes that had yet to cumulatively result in adequate level of cover for the people.
He said the country needed to keep abreast of other countries in its development bracket in social health insurance.
While saying that health insurance must become a part of the social culture, the President said Nigerians needed to be encouraged to imbibe the benefits of affordable and regular contributions to achieving guaranteed and sustainable long term health services.
He said the theme of the summit, “Universal Health Coverage: The Vehicle for Sustainable Growth and Development” captured the emphasis which his administration’s transformation agenda placed on health care for all in Nigeria.
The President said the government was determined to elevate UHC to a national movement with substantial participation by local and international stakeholders, supported by the government and the private sector at all levels.
Jonathan said, “Government is not unaware of the numerous challenges limiting the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in our country, and the importance of political commitment in surmounting these challenges.
“The World Bank’s case study of 11 countries that have made significant progress in UHC, affirmed that political leadership and commitment is the key driving force for achieving UHC.
“Our gathering here is to reaffirm our commitment as political leaders both at federal and state levels that we will do all within our powers to provide Universal Health Coverage for our people.
“As a member of the United Nations, Nigeria subscribes to the 68th General Assembly resolution calling on member-nations to accelerate efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage. In 2010, we also set the bold target of achieving thirty per cent health insurance coverage by the end of 2015.
“Every Nigerian, who earns an income, has an obligation to contribute to his/her health care, and we all owe it to those who do not have the means, to provide for themselves.
“If all the states, LGAs and the organised private sector join some form of pre-payment scheme today, our coverage level will increase by over 100 per cent.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
“If all the states, LGAs and the organised private sector join some form of pre-payment scheme today, our coverage level will increase by over 100 per cent.”
ReplyDeleteNa u people (Government) go carry the money run......just as 20B dollars de miss now, and many more, the government should lead by example.
Useless govt, U and ur wife are numbe one defaulters, U rush to foriengn hospital even after taking Ogogoro.
ReplyDeleteCharity begins at home GEJ. You and your wife should start receiving medical treatment in Nigeria, then develope our medical facilities so that we do not need to fly out again for serious cases. Only then will we know that you are serious.
ReplyDeleteAnd that tourism is being led by you and your wife.
ReplyDelete.no be una de travl, na dem govement. Make una talk to unaself. We are tired of una noise. Shameless pple.
ReplyDeleteOga jona na u and ur will dey lead in this medical tourism issue, so make una stop going for treatment abroad then other nigerians will follow pass the same instruction to all government official and all public office holder, there will be a tremendous reduction in the no of pple going aboard for treatment. TY
ReplyDelete