President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the setting up of a committee to commence the development and implementation of a Health Sector Reform programme for Nigeria.
The Health Sector Reform Committee, to be headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, will work with State Governments and the FCT administration to achieve the intended purpose.
The development, according to a statement, is sequel to a Health Sector Diagnostic Review Report developed by a consultant, Vesta Healthcare Partners and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the statement says the committee will undertake a review of all healthcare reforms adopted in the past two decades, and factor them into the development of the new Health Sector Reform Programme.
“The committee will undertake a review of all healthcare reforms adopted in the past two decades and lessons learnt and factor them into the development of the new health sector reform programme,” the statement said.
The committee, which is set up for a period of six months, has members drawn from private and public sector healthcare management professionals, development partners, representatives from the National Assembly, as well as the Nigeria Governors Forum.
Its members include Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; Director-General of BPE, Alex Okoh; a Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University College, London and Director of the UCL Institute for Global Health, Ibrahim Abubakar; and Director-General of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, Babatunde Irukera, among several others.
The newly appointed NCDC boss, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa will also be a member of the committee.
The statement adds that Vesta Healthcare Partners and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are to serve as resources persons and have observer roles in the committee.
BELLO WAKILI