Gbajabiamila highlights role of governments in healthcare transformation

The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday tasked the three-tiers of government to ensure the transformation of the nation’s healthcare system.

Gbajabiamila, also the Guest Speaker, gave the advice at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos 63rd Founder’s Day celebration and 18th Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas Memorial Lecture in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture has the topic: ”Transforming Healthcare: The Role of Political Leadership.”

He highlighted the respective roles of the three tiers of government – the local, state and Federal Government in shaping the healthcare system for effective delivery.

Gbajabiamila said while the Federal Government sets national health policies and oversees tertiary institutions, it was the state and local governments that bear the crucial responsibility of ensuring access to quality healthcare.

“State governments are primarily responsible for managing secondary healthcare services, which include general hospitals and specialist centres,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, who said that coordination of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) was officially under the jurisdiction of local governments, decried  the reality that many local councils lack the capacity and resources to manage these services effectively.

Emphasising the different responsibilities of each government, he stressed the  importance of coordination for basic health services, such as immunisations, maternal care, and treatment of common illnesses.

He noted that proper coordination would make these services accessible to people in both urban and rural areas.

“In the context of healthcare, political leaders have the power to set national and state priorities that place health at the centre of development.

“One of the truths, we must consider is the fact that too much of the conversation around healthcare policy in Nigeria centres on the Federal Government when, in fact, it is the state and local governments that bear the greatest responsibility in ensuring access to quality healthcare,” he said.

He lamented that Nigeria’s healthcare indicators remained very troubling, in spite of the  significant sums allocated to healthcare by successive federal and state governments.

According to him, the country has one of the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality in the world – over 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and approximately 54 deaths per 1,000 live births.

He added that less than 10 per cent of Nigerians were covered by health insurance.

“Our doctor-to-patient ratio remains far below the World Health Organisation recommendation, making our life expectancy of just 55 years.

“These statistics are not just numbers; they represent lives lost, families broken, and futures dimmed. Political leadership must confront this reality with urgency and resolve, beginning by admitting that much of what has been done over the years has not delivered the desired outcomes.

Gbajabiamila identified poor funding and corruption as major problems limiting the effective healthcare system.

He underscored the need for collaboration among the three tiers of government to foster remarkable improvement in the healthcare system.

”Collaboration is key to unlocking this potential. State governments must work closely with the federal government, local councils, civil society organisations and the private sector.

“Such partnerships can enhance resource mobilisation, foster innovation, and ensure that services are responsive to community needs.

“For example, public-private partnerships have been successful in some states, where private firms manage public hospitals under performance-based contracts.

“These arrangements can improve efficiency and accountability while maintaining affordability,” he said.

Earlier, the Provost of the College, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, appreciated all the participants, saying that the governments could transform the healthcare system if they have the “political will”.

Oremosu decried that health facilities most times were far away from the people, as most hospitals were situated in the urban cities.

He emphasised the need for intentionality in the citing of healthcare facilities, making services closer to the people who need them.

According to him, the three levels of government have roles in shaping the healthcare, noting that the local and state governments need to be more responsive.

“One of the problem is that healthcare facilities are often far away from the people.

“So, there should be intentionality in the citing of healthcare facilities, in the recruiting of healthcare manpower and in the funding  and financing of healthcare.

“We need healthcare system that will improve our indices in the maternal mortality rate, infant mortality and life expectancy,” Oremosu said.

The event featured goodwill messages, fund raising and presentation of awards to past provosts and professors for their outstanding contributions to the University.