SYNLAB Nigeria and other healthcare experts have called for enhanced private sector participation in Nigeria’s health sector to motivate practitioners and businesses on ethical standards and patient wellbeing.
Kenneth Okolie, chief executive officer of SYNLAB Nigeria, while speaking at the maiden session of SYNLAB Nigeria Webinar series said this will also enhance regulation of the sector.
He believed a more integrated private sector participation was necessary to ensure access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
The CEO said functional and excellently maintained primary healthcare facilities as well as strong accountability frameworks that ensure professionalism and proper utilisation of available resources are essential for improving the availability and access to quality healthcare in Nigeria.
He highlighted that a shortage of motivated and skilled manpower, which is further compounded by the migration of skilled workforce (Japa) is a key issue that needs to be addressed, as the long-term impact is worrisome.
He also motioned, that while its public knowledge that the health sector could do with better funding, it is extremely important that the issues of accountability (with respect to improper management of available financial and other material resources) within the public sector are addressed head-on.
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Kenneth added that adequate financing and effective implementation of the universal basic health coverage act would help steer the sector from its current state to a more desirable future state.
Speaking on health equity during the event, a health technology finance professional, Dami Adeyemi-Levites said that healthcare financing can help to reduce the financial barriers to accessing healthcare services through insurance coverage. He noted that healthcare financing can reduce the out-of-pocket costs for patients, stressing that out-of-pocket costs account for about 70 percent of all healthcare expenditure in Nigeria. Adeyemi-Levites further stated that a collaborative drive was needed for healthcare tech companies to share data and drive better healthcare outcomes for end users. He called for improved government policies and healthcare spending interventions to achieve health equity.
Also speaking on preventive health at the “health for all” webinar, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor said Nigeria needed to focus on preventive healthcare, as this helps both the individual and the nation in ensuring health for all.
Egemba recommended that regular health checks, screenings, immunisation and good health-seeking behaviours would ensure the prevention of diseases.
He also added that health literacy was important for quality healthcare, stressing that a knowledgeable person would be mindful of activities that either promote or undermine their health.
Meanwhile, in continuation of its quest to make quality medical diagnostics services available to Nigerians, SYNLAB Nigeria has launched an e-commerce site. The platform provides the public an opportunity to access SYNLAB’s exceptional services from the comfort of their various locations.
