Senate President, Bukola Saraki, believes that the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences (FUHSO), Otukpo, Benue State, will end the huge revenue of N3Billion being lost to other countries on “medical tourism.”
The bill which was declared open for public hearing by the Senate President, is aimed at effectively training medical personnel and other professional in the health sector and also find a lasting solution to the concurrent admission deficit.
“Figures show that only about 20 percent of those who qualify and apply are admitted to medical schools in this country. In July of this year, a newspaper survey indicated that, of nearly 160,000 applicants, only 3000 gain admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions to study Medicine and related courses.”
Saraki also stated that Nigeria is far behind in the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of one doctor to 600 patients, if the Government does not employ more medical professionals.
“We are at the present time lagging behind by all indices, with one doctor to about 5000 Nigerians.
“180 million of us are served by 35,000 doctors.”
He commended Senator David Mark for his vision and steadfastness in sponsoring and promoting the Bill for the establishment of FUHSO.
“His focus on this goal is, no doubt, a measure of his commitment to alleviating the huge shortfall in the education and training of critical personnel in the Nation’s health sector.
“This bill comes not a moment too soon as it seeks to answer the need for more effective training of our medical personnel,” he added.
In his response, David Mark urged the Senate to support the quick passage of the Bill, adding that it would be the first established Science Institution in the country joining the likes of Technology, Education and Agriculture.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institution and TETFUND, Jibrin Barau, said the public hearing would allow stakeholders to be part of the process of revampingk the health sector.
He also noted that the enactment of the Bill would help in providing the country with more medical manpower.
