Daily Trust (Abuja)
Muideen Olaniyi
8 July 2009
Nigeria is losing over $200 million on foreign medical treatment annually, Health Minister Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin said yesterday in Abuja while giving his scorecard before the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The minister, who expressed regret that Nigerians sought medical treatment abroad for ailments as little as eye discomfort due to lack of confidence in the nation's health system, also attributed the problem to the lack of courtesy by medical practitioners towards patients who are made to wait long hours to be treated.
He said President Umaru Musa Yar'adua has endorsed the establishment of four quality healthcare centres in the country with world class facilities just as government targets a total of 10,000 new midwives in the country before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Prof. Oshotimehin has called for 1000% rise in alcohol tax and a 500% increase in cigarette tax to fund the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He drew inference from the successful experience of Ghana, which invested 100% of VAT collected in the country in healthcare delivery.
The minister solicited the support of the party to help in the area of coordinating states and local governments for effective healthcare delivery in the country.
The PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor had stated in his remarks that the briefing was necessary to equip the politicians particularly ahead of 2011 general election.
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