Strengthening Primary Healthcare Services is PMB administration’s main trust – Minister

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By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole thursday hinted that strengthen Primary Healthcare Services across Nigeria remains is the main thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The Minister dropped this hint in Ibadan while speaking through the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge at the closing of the Oyo State Health summit tagged “Setting the Pace for Health Sector Reform in the Change Era”.organized by the state branch of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
Professor Adewole stated that in line with this, the present administration in the country is determined to strengthen Primary Healthcare Services in and across the country.
He emphasized that the time has come for Oyo State Government to accelerate the full operationalization of the state health insurance scheme to be able to meet up with the health insurance scheme when fully operational.
According to the Minister, the health insurance scheme when fully operational, Oyo State can procure services under a public private partnership initiative for the primary health sector despite the lack of local government autonomy.
“Oyo State Government should partner with the Federal Ministry of health by establishing Oyo State Primary Health Care Development Board. This board when constituted will work closely with the National Primary Heath Care Development Agency to strengthen primary health care services which is the main thrust of this administration’ healthcare agenda”.
Professor Adewole noted that if Oyo State Government partners with the Federal Ministry of Health by establishing the state primary health care development board, should constitute the board to work closely with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to strengthen Primary Health care Services.
“Oyo State Government should accelerate the full operationalization of the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme. That the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme when fully operational can procure services under a Public Private Partnership initiative for the Primary Health sector despite the lack of Local Government autonomy”.
The Minister also said “concessioning some heath care services as an extension of a well-structured and politically correct public private partnership may be considered in some circumstances, adding, “I hope the Oyo State reform agenda for the health sector will inculcate a structured referral system from the Primary heath care providers through the secondary healthcare services to the tertiary institutions. I strongly believe that this is a strong tool for research and date collection, which will assist with health care planning”.

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