The minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the rehabilitation workforce and services would be strengthened to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to reduce brain drain in the health sector.
Pate, represented by the director, regulatory bodies and professional schools division, Dr. Okpikpi Okpako, stated this at a 2-day stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
The meeting was organized by the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria (MRTB), with a theme of “Implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Agenda in Nigeria: Training, Practice, and Regulation.”
He said integrating the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Rehabilitation Agenda 2030 would address challenges of brain drain and improve access to rehabilitation services, thereby achieving UHC.
“The government is not unaware of the phenomenon as it affects the entire healthcare workforce. The Japan syndrome has assumed an alarming trend in physiotherapy, where Nigerians with relevant qualifications are continuously attracted abroad.
“Many medical tourists have come to account for the rehabilitation services they received abroad at exorbitant costs.
”You can rest assured that the healthcare system will be turned around in Nigeria in no distant time with what the government of the day has begun; there is no time for details.
“This gathering represents an important step in the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Agenda initiative, which envisions that every citizen should be able to meet her or his rehabilitation needs.
“Your gathering today is a milestone for Nigeria in fulfilling its mandate to transform healthcare service delivery to assume universal health coverage,” he said.
The minister, therefore, tasked the participants to brainstorm on strategies that would ensure improved rehabilitation services and the implementation of resolutions of the Rehabilitation 2030 Agenda with a view to integrating them into the UHC.
The registrar and chief executive officer of MRTB, Prof. Rufai Ahmad, said: “We are coming here to meet with stakeholders to discuss how to initiate the process of rehabilitation from the perspective of practice, regulation, and training.
“However, having these stakeholders will also give the opportunity to discuss matters that will require stakeholders attention to be able to implement the rehabilitation 2030 agenda.’’
The Chairman of the National Tertiary Health Standard Institution Standard Committee (NTHISC), Prof. Philip Abiodun, said they would support ensuring the full implementation of policies that would strengthen rehabilitation services.
“Because you plan to set standards, and we shall be happy to have this standard from you so that we can incorporate and monitor it. I can assure you of our full cooperation.
“The WHO 2030 vision should not just be paper work or rhetoric. But what we are going to do today is not just talk, but action. I am very convinced that we are moving forward,” he said.
On his part, Prof. King David, representing Mr. Chris Maiyaki, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), assured them of their commitment to training rehabilitation workers to strengthen their capacity.
“NUC has the capacity to regulate, retrain, and assure you that we will partner together in developing a strategic aspect in the areas of academic contents, rehabilitation in medicine, accreditation, and curriculum development and review for first-degree and higher degrees.
“It will also include monitoring and evaluation of programmes. So I will like to assure you that we are ready to support and partner with you,” he said.
Stakeholders from academia, regulatory bodies, and ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) were present at the event.
