Former Minister of State for Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has advised healthcare workers to offer their best services to patients in order to earn their trust and confidence to access treatment in the country.
He gave the advice yesterday during the ‘All things medical conference and exhibition ‘ organised by Media Trust in Abuja.
Pate who is also a Professor at the Duke University’s Global Health Institute, United States of America said trust was vital in the production of health and that users should have confidence that the system respects their rights.
“There is need to engage the patients in the production of health. Health workers should not focus on themselves but on their clients,” he said.
Pate said when the patients experience competent care along with , good user experience ,it would lead to improved health outcomes, adding that it would also enable the populace to have confidence in the system and not travel out for care.
According to him, patients should be given quality from diagnosis , to treatment and should receive it based on evidence.
He said the foundational elements of quality care has to do with the population in terms of their health needs , awareness , demands and services and what to expect.
He said the country also needed to build the foundation of governance in our health system and provide adequate funding for the health sector, among others.
He also advised that tapping into the motivation of health workers would enable them to give their best and that it will lead to improvement in health outcomes.
Founder of the Albino foundation , Jake Ekpelle called for free medical health services for persons living with disabilities in the country.
Chairman of The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) Federal Capital Territory chapter, Dr Chito Nwana said development could not be achieved in the health sector without the engagement of the private sector .
President of Nigerian Society of Physiotherapists , Dr Rufai Ahmed, said to achieve excellent healthcare services, the perspectives of all stakeholders must be considered especially those that access the services.
He said there was need for life style changes among the populace and that the country needs to begin to plan with ideas and projection on what it envisions in the next 21 years .
Earlier, renowned clinical oncologist and Head of the Oncology unit, National Hospital, Dr Bello Abubakar said Nigeria has continued to record deaths from cancer annually. He said the burden of cancer is more than that of malaria and TB combined, and called on participants at the conference to utilize it to proffer solutions to issues militating against cancer care in Nigeria .
