Stakeholders in the health sector have called for an adequate improvement in the health care delivery system in Nigeria. This is to reduce the high rate of patients travelling out of the country for medical treatments.
Health and wellness consultant, CHIJIOKE MBELU, disclosed this in a press conference to mark the forthcoming 2018 Health Professional Submit billed to commence on the 19th -21st September in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the poor health infrastructure in the country has forced lots of medical practitioners to relocate abroad, stressing that there is a need for healthcare innovation in the country so as to enhance and improve the lives of the people.
Dr Mbelu said that the health Submit which involves health campaign will help health products’ visibility and give healthcare professionals the opportunity to showcase their stock in trade.
He advised patients to reduce excessive travelling to the UK, South Africa, Ghana and India for medical vacations.
“There is an exodus of medical practitioners outside the country. People are leaving on a daily basis because they do not like the level of care in Nigeria. It’s already an issue and people are dying. Nigeria has the poorest health care indices. It is 3rd to the lowest in the world.
“Nigerians are leaving the country for things that can be done here. A lot of doctors presently can do so many things. For instance, sex selection in fertility clinics, laparoscopic surgery, and people go outside to do laparoscopic surgery at a higher cost‘’
He also called for the involvement of medical professionals in developmental skills and healthcare entrepreneurship as a way to boost the healthcare industry in Nigeria.
He urged the government, the private and other stakeholders to contribute and pay more attention to events that will avail the rural and urban people the opportunity for a free medical check which he said was one of the expectations of the summit.
