If the current lobby by the Committee of Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) with the Federal Ministry of Health sails through, Nigerians may pay more for treatment in teaching hospitals nationwide.
Cost of running the hospitals is on the increase, infrastructural development has been very slow because of the dwindling economy, the Chairman of the Committee of CMDs, Dr. Thomas Agan told newsmen yesterday.
“The recession is affecting every sector. I can tell you that from when I took over in 2011 we had capital budget of about N600 million, and out of this amount only 52 per cent was released. In 2012, we had about N400 million, out of this only 48 per cent was released. In 2013, about N400 million and only 38 per cent was released. So it had continued to dwindle.“If you will not increase, how do you manage the system? There is no way the cost of treatment will not increase. For me, we have not even increased; we are even trying to lobby with the Federal Ministry of Health to beg them to see the possibility of increasing the cost of treatment”.
On current strike action by resident doctors, he said, “I have told doctors nationwide that I am ready to solve their problems as long as they are ready to stop striking unnecessarily.
‘’ I will join the Federal Government to solve their problems which is minor as far as I am concerned.”