As part of efforts to bridge the shortfall in the number of health practitioners in Lagos State, stakeholders in the state’s education and health sectors have called for the quick passage of a bill to establish the Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The stakeholders clamoured for passage of the bill, which was described as long overdue, at a public hearing held on Wednesday at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Lateef Jakande Auditorium.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, said that the current ratio of one doctor to 3,600 patients in Lagos, with about 25 million people, is grossly inadequate.
He explained further that establishing the university will deepen the training and capacity of health-care workers and, by extension, reduce the brain drain syndrome.
Commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi stated that the World Health Organisation(WHO) stipulated a ratio of one doctor to 600 patients, noting that medical schools in Lagos, Lagos State University and Lagos State University College Hospital barely produce 200 per annum, which is inadequate.
He noted that Lagos State boasts about 30 general hospitals and other Primary Health Care Centres, saying the medical infrastructure and personnel have been overstretched due to the increasing number of sick people.
Abayomi stated categorically that the establishment of the University will help provide trained personnel to handle the sick population.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Hon Lawal Aina Musbau, said that the Medical School in Lagos cannot absorb the increasing number of medical and allied students.
He promised to implement Pharmacist Oyewole Anthony Bola’s suggestion that all other ancillary courses should be considered by naming the institution Lagos State University of Health Sciences instead of Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The Deputy Speaker, RT. Hon. Princess Mojisola Lasbat Meranda concluded that all the stakeholders’ input will be considered when passing the bill.
