Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday, urged the newly inaugurated Board Chairmen and Members of the Federal Government Tertiary Health Institutions and Agencies to shun any form of corrupt practices in the course of discharging their duties.
The Minister reminded them that the Buhari led administration has zero tolerance for any form of corruption, and this stance must not be compromised in any way.
He stated that the government would not hesitate to prosecute any corrupt practices perpetrated by any board member as well as the management team of these agencies and institutions.
The Minister read the riot act at the formal inauguration of the Governing Boards of Parastatal, Agencies and Institutions under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health, in Abuja, he said Board appointments are part time, so the management of the Agencies and Hospitals should therefore be allowed to perform the day to day running of these organizations without hindrance.
The Minister said, “Your allowances and entitlements as board members are guided by extant circulars that will be distributed to you in due course. Please acquaint yourselves with the circulars for proper guidance.
“Governing Boards are creations of statutes, and their responsibilities are to give policy direction to the management of Institutions. I therefore wish to emphasise that Government expects no
less from these boards that are to be inaugurated today. Your Agencies are critical to the achievement of developmental goals of government, being implementing entities of the health sector. You are all enjoined to commit to achieving this mandate and to live above board”.
He further stated that, “The roles you are being called upon to play revolves around setting the standards for control and discipline which are the core elements required for any positive change to take place. Your appointments should be seen as an opportunity to make useful and selfless contributions toward uplifting healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.
The minister noted that for the health institutions to have the desired impact on the lives of the citizens, they must be of the right quality, skill mix and right attitude to service delivery.
“It is your responsibility as Chairmen and Members of the GoverningvBoards to bring about this desired change in the short term. You mustvacquaint yourselves with the mandates as contained in the enabling Actvof your Parastatal, Agency and Institution,” he told new official.
According to him, “As new boards, I must prepare your minds on some ofvthe key challenges within the sector, which will require yourvimmediate attention as you assume duties: Inter Professional Harmony:
There are continuing contentions and inter professional rivalry in the Health Sector. Right from the inception of this administration, the health sector has been overwhelmed with demands from various trade unions and professional bodies and associations within the health sector. The reports emanating from the sector has been that of incessant strikes, with attendant low productivity and resultant poor service delivery”.
He continued, “As Chairmen and Members of the Governing Boards, you have the primary responsibility to perform, which involves calming down frayed nerves, resolving industrial disharmony and ensuring an end to incessant strikes by trade unions in the health sector. We should make our hospitals better known for efficient and effective health care services than for the lack of such. Our ministry will support in any way to enhance resolutions where necessary; Professional discipline amongst Health Professionals This is one of the most important tasks you must carry out as Governing Boards. It requires due diligence, transparency, firmness and fairness. There is a significant number of cases of professional misconduct pending against some health professionals under your purview. These should be dispensed with expeditiously to ensure public confidence in the health sector.
“You are also required to devise innovative ways of ensuring that health professionals across board, collaborate with each other in the spirit of professional interdependence and that they comply with prescribed Code of Practice and Professional Conduct while maintaining the highest ethical decorum in and out of the work place”.
He urged the board members to put in place policies that would increase internally generated revenue and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the use of these resources in line with Financial Regulations.
He warned, “Procurement and Contracts are not your functions, as you are advised to keep strictly to the provisions of the procurement Act 2007, as provided by the Bureau of Public procurement”.
The following Agencies and Institutions: Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, National Orthopedic Hospitals, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospitals, National Health Insurance Schemes, and National Primary Health Care Development Agency got Governing Board Members.
LAIDE Akinboade-ORIERE
