The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for increased collaboration between the government and all stakeholders in the health sector to redesign and strengthen the state’s healthcare system for quality service delivery to the people.
Obaseki, during a stakeholders’ workshop, at the Government House, Benin City, reassured that his government will sustain reforms in the healthcare system to reposition the state as Nigeria’s medical hub.
According to him, “the current healthcare system that we are operating was put in place about 50 years ago by the then Governor of Bendel State, late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia. It’s high time we redesigned a new one for optimal service delivery.
“We must redesign our healthcare system. Healthcare has social and economic implications. People are making money from it; let us structure ours so that we can have access to quality treatment here, to avoid traveling abroad for treatment.”
The governor continued: “As far as I am concerned, there is no reason why Edo shouldn’t become a medical hub, because, in this state alone, we have over 2,000 well-trained medical doctors. We can always buy modern equipment in our hospitals.
“Let us all agree that at the end of today’s workshop, we are all going to move our healthcare system forward. Let’s make Edo a medical destination for other states,” he stated.
Reassuring of his administration’s efforts to ensure the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services to Edo people, Obaseki added, “My responsibility as the governor of Edo is to create a system where everybody can have access to quality and effective healthcare services. Whether that service is provided by a federal, state, or private hospital; it is my responsibility.
“So, governance is key and technology is important. Technology gives you a little bit of transparency in the system; technology gives you the privilege to keep information about all your patients.”
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Osamwonyi Irowa, commended the governor for his massive investment in the state’s healthcare system, noting that the government is determined to upgrade the state’s health care system to meet global standards.
