The former director, hospital service, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, has urged health practitioners in the country to put safe practices in care delivery as a priority for better healthcare system delivery in line with global best practices.
Adebiyi proffered the advise at her final disengagement as the director in Abuja today (October 14, 2022) in Abuja.
She said that relevant stakeholders in healthcare delivery services should be conscientious about the prevention of medication-related errors which could lead to health problems.
The director acknowledged that the country is currently making efforts to improve its healthcare delivery system.
Adebiyi said that will ensure that these improvements are sustainable; thus, adequate attention must be paid to patient safety and quality health care delivery.
She, however, encouraged all healthcare providers across the country to continue to operate according to the guidelines of the Federal Government.
The expert hoped that the FMoH will not relent in its role of ensuring that healthcare delivery is provided by qualified professionals in accredited facilities, as the ministry has an overall safety strategy for healthcare delivery.
Adebiyi explained further that the FMoH often regulates the activities of all health facilities across the country, including the traditional alternative and complementary health practitioners to improve their capacity for efficient service delivery.
“As far as the FMoH is concerned, its concern is to develop policies. We have carried out situation analysis and we have developed the strategies for ensuring patient safety. This will be implemented by all stakeholders,” she said.
According to her, all stakeholders – from the practitioners to the patients – have roles to play, including the media that is going to help disseminate the provisions of the policy.
She said that the main strategy of the ministry is the national strategy for anaesthesia, the surgical nursing plan that is bringing all the practitioners without segregation.
“Everyone is going to work together, so that we have the patient’s interest at heart. It is going to be [a] patient-centered service delivery. No more [in the] practitioners’ interest,” she added.
Adebiyi said that Nigerians need to know that FMoH have regulatory bodies for all the health systematic areas and if they have any dissatisfaction with service delivery, reports should be made to the regulatory bodies.
“We have the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) etc and professionals have regulatory bodies. Nigerians should utilise the services of these regulatory bodies if they have any issues concerning their practitioners,” she advised.
