Reps Committee Sets Agenda On Specialty Healthcare
Chairman of the newly constituted House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare, Dr Alex Egbona is optimistic that delivery of services in the specialty healthcare sector will receive further boost across the country as the committee fine-tunes its legislative implementation framework.
On Wednesday, various stakeholders met at the National Assembly to review the draft legislative activity implementation framework developed by the committee based on identified thematic areas, including mental/brain health, trauma and obstetrics fistula 2 and oral health, ear and eye healthcare.
They also considered areas such as blood transfusion, blood management and anaemia, traditional, complementary and alternative medicine and specialty healthcare innovation.
The framework is a set of committee activities with clearly defined objectives and outcomes. Some of the legislative activities covered include legislative advocacy roundtable with stakeholders on alternative power supply for all specialised hospitals, centres and agencies in Nigeria, as well as stakeholder engagement on improved specialty healthcare budgeting, special interventions and funding innovations for effective specialised healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
In his remarks at the event, Egbona said “the committee’s first legislative round table with stakeholders was held on the 28th of February 2024, a year ago, where stakeholders were invited to consider the committee’s mandate, jurisdiction and planned legislative activities, identify partnership and support opportunities for policy regulation and review of legislative and legal frameworks to strengthen service delivery by specialised health institutions in the country.
“The secretariat was mandated in that meeting to draft a Legislative Activity Implementation Framework incorporating the adopted Work Plan and all legislative activities outlined by the newly established Committee on Specialty Healthcare of the House of Representatives.
“It is important to note that the Committee on Specialty Healthcare was established at the inception of the 10th National Assembly under the leadership of the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas with a commitment to provide the requisite legislative frameworks for improved specialised healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
“The mandate of the committee is to ensure effective legislative oversight in the health sector and to give maximum attention to specialised hospitals and health institutions including all neuro-psychiatric hospitals, orthopaedic hospitals, obstetrics fistula centres, blood transfusion Services, Eye and Ear Care Hospitals, Dental and Oral Health Programmes and Institutions, traditional, complementary and alternative medicine.”
He said the committee has taken deliberate steps to set an agenda for itself as it strives to meet up the mandate and was working hard to get everything in place for its smooth operations, in the interest of the country.
He sought the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, including NGOs, CSOs and the private sector to enable the committee succeed. He also thanked those who have assisted the committee so far.
“I wish to on behalf of the Committee appreciate the support from the CBM by providing banners and writing materials to the Secretariat for this Round Table and Strategy Meeting.
The Committee therefore looks forward and calls for more collaborations and technical support from interested development partners, NGOs, CSOs and the private sector to facilitate the adoption and implementation of this Legislative initiative by the Specialty Healthcare Committee of the House of Representatives.
“The Committee specially appreciates CHM for the support and provision of materials needed at this event. We look forward for more collaborations, partnerships and technical support on all the outlined legislative activities contained in the Framework.”
