Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has assured critical stakeholders of its readiness to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act 2002 to pave the way for accelerated passage of 16 bills seeking to establish new federal tertiary heath institutions.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas gave the assurance yesterday while declaring open, a one-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Health Institutions.
It would be recalled that the bill was read for the first and second time recently in the green chamber and was subsequently referred to the committee on health for further legislative action.
Represented by Martins Oke, Speaker Abbas said the bills seeking to establish the proposed 16 federal health institutions would improve the living standard of citizens.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Institution, Amos Magaji explained the need for the federal government to balance the establishment of health Institutions in the country.
He stated that there had been massive migration of doctors and nurses from Nigeria to other countries in search of greener pastures.
The committee therefore urged the invited stakeholders to give fresh insight into the need for the establishment of these health institutions in the six geo-political zones.
A member of the House, Makki Yalleman, who also spoke on the Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Medical Centre, Mallam Madori in Jigawa State, said the establishment of the proposed health institution is long overdue.
He informed the committee that Jigawa State with a population of over five million people lack a federal healthcare facility, forcing residents to travel long distances in search of quality healthcare.
In its presentation, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, said it supports the amendment of the Federal Medical Centers Act to establish these new health institutions.
The professional body, however, said it would withdraw support if the federal government does not guarantee proper funding of the institutions.
President of the NMA, Bala Muhammad and Secretary, Dr Benjamin Egbo, in a memorandum to the committee, called for the establishment of revolving funds to ensure that there is non-interruption of of medical services within the confines of these health facilities.
Some of the proposed health institutions include Federal Medical Centre, Epe, Lagos State, Federal Medical Center, Mallam Madori, Jigawa State, Federal Medical Centre, Isi Ala Ngwá, Abia State, Federal Medical Centre, Afam, Rivers State and and Federal Medical Centre, Itigidi, Cross River State.
Others are Federal Medical Centre, Okehi, Kogi State, Federal Medical Centre, Achị, Enugu State, Federal Medical Centre, Toro Bauchi State and National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease Research and Treatment, Kano State among others.
