Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Prof. Innocent Ujah, has advocated for establishment of health bank to provide funds for investments in the sector.

The former Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research said that the bank should be established like Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.

He stated that the bank would help in setting up standard and well equipped facilities in the country to reduce medical tourism overseas.

“In places like India where we go for medical treatment, almost all the hospitals are privately-owned.

“The Bank of Health like Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture will help doctors and other health workers to access loans at reduced rates to put up state-of-the-art hospitals.

“The hospitals will be well equipped, with adequate staff that is well paid to do the work that they travel to America, Europe and India to do,’” the expert said.

He noted that it would enhance the quality of healthcare delivery and also reverse brain drain and medical tourism.

“Because they are going there because of the facilities and the need to continue to train.

“People will get loans and there will be consortium or consortia that will be put together by health workers including non-health workers,” he said.

According to him, patients were suffering and some have died due to lack of quality healthcare system.

He said it was regrettable that the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the weakness in Nigeria healthcare system.

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Gynaecologist advocates establishment of health bank.