By Giwa SHILE
The Lagos State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) says it is organising a debate for governorship candidates in the state.
The Association said the move was to ensure improved health and welfare of the citizens ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni, who disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos, said it had become necessary to critically look into some issues bordering on accessibility, availability, quality and affordability of healthcare in the state.
The debate would take place on Jan. 30, 2019, according to Oseni, the forthcoming election provides a platform to set agenda for the incoming governor.
“The citizens have been forced by law to co-fund health provision in the state.
“Therefore, it has become important to create a platform for the gubernatorial candidates to unveil their plans for the health and welfare of the people.
“This informed the efforts of the association as the custodian of our people’s health to bring the candidates to task in governorship debate,” he said.
Oseni said that seven of the candidates had indicated interest in the debate.
He listed the party candidates that had indicated interest to include All Progressives Congress, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu; Action Democratic Party, Mr Babatunde, Gbadamosi and National Conscience Party, Mr Funso Awe.
Others are Alliance for New Nigeria, Mr Francis Adebayo; Dr Sam Anyamele of UDP; Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Jimi Agbaje; and AD candidate Mr Owolabi Salis.
Oseni also said that the association would organise a leadership retreat billed to hold between Jan. 28 and 29 to address issues including, brain drain, quackery, the newly launched Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme and shortage of health workforce.
He said that the retreat will also look critically at the issues being raised about the Lagos health insurance scheme.
“While we welcome the scheme, we will not want it to go the way of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“We are aware that as laudable as the scheme is, it has not achieved even five per cent coverage.
“Again, despite the fact that we still have this brain drain, a lot of doctors are jobless.
“We really need to critically look into why we are still short staffed; so it became very important that we should bring together all the stakeholders in the health sector to look into this.
“These and more are questions we wish to provide answers to through robust discuss by professionals and stakeholders at the leadership retreat.
“At the same time, we want to ensure industrial harmony and improvement in the health indices in the overall interest of Lagosians,” he said.
