Guild Seeks Committee On Health Communications

Owners and proprietors of private medical facilities in Nigeria under the auspices of the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has called for the urgent set up of the Working Committee for the continuous and permanent communication between the Federal Ministry of Health.

The Working Committee according to the guild should encompass the private sector with the representatives of the GMD as key members.

The guild which made the request in a communiqué issued at the inaugural Leadership and Business Summit of the GMD signed by its national president,
Dr Raymond Abiodun Kuti, yesterday in Abuja said “GMD representatives to be key members of any committee that would be required to formulate or upgrade the operational guidelines and
tariff of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).”

It said discussion about the specific government facilities that can be handed over to the private sector to manage as we collaborate with the government
in a PPP fashion.

The communique added that a “humble request for the FMOH to publicly advocate for and encourage those who can afford it to use Nigerian Private Hospitals with Innovative Services that they go abroad to access.”

It further said the minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire in his response to the questions as well as the panel discussions with the special guests said, “Although the Federal Ministry of Health as the policy making body, may not directly offer financial aid to private medical facilities, there needs to be a Permanent and Continuous Communication link between the FMOH and the GMD, as key stakeholders in Health care delivery in Nigeria.

The minister said for the NHIS (now NHIA) to be successful, the key providers of health care need to be effectively involved with the operational guidelines of such Health Insurance.