The wife of the president, Aisha Buhari on Wednesday appealed to operators of private healthcare facilities in the country to reduce the high cost of their services to enable average Nigerians have access to desired medical attention. The President's wife made the call during a courtesy visit by officials of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) at the State House.
She lamented that the inability of some Nigerians to access health services at Private clinics after failed attempt at public hospitals had led to avoidable fatalities and projected the sector negatively.
“Private health care is expensive, your association needs to revisit the issue of charges” she called on practitioners to make treatments affordable so that more people can access your services and health outcomes can improve.
“I also urge your association to check cases of malpractice by private hospitals, which are becoming more rampant,” she added.
Aisha Buhari who further decried the increasing cases of brain drain in the health sector hinted that a stakeholders' conference was in works to appraise prevailing realities in the sector.
“That is why I am convening a stakeholder event soon, to draw their attention to the possibilities and opportunities in the sector,” she said.
Responding, the President of the Association, Dr. Frank Odofen, commended the wife of the President’s commitment to the health of women and children through the Future Assured Programme, led to her recent appointment as UNAIDS ambassador.
He expressed optimism that with her passion, health care indices will improve in country.