Health care Reform in Nigeria- a must.

Health care Reform in Nigeria- a must.- Dr Jide Obosi
Culled from obstacles to health reforms by Menadue John.
The problem with health reform is that even when major redesign is necessary, many ‘reformers' continue to think incrementally. Some believe that major redesign is impossible, that political timidity and acquiescence have become a way of life for many health ministers. They see the individual parts of the system working reasonably well, and fail to see that the system as a whole is inefficient and unfair. They ignore the obvious fact that the uncoordinated programs are provider-driven. Journalists are under-resourced to really understand a very complex system, yet patients encounter its failings every day.
Nigeria's so-called ‘health system' lacks clear underpinning values and direction. It lacks leadership - not money. Our health leaders lack the will for health reform because they are strongly influenced by the vested interests that abound in health - doctors (particularly specialists), state health bureaucracies, parochial political interests, private health insurance funds, pharmacies and the pharmaceutical companies.
The health ‘debate' is about placating these vested interests rather than listening to the community and patients. Ministers spend their energy in the financing of health programs, when production and delivery of health care is sclerotic. They are concerned with funding individual announcement-driven health programs, rather than integrating all health care.
Our health care structures have outlived their useful life. They were never designed as a ‘system'.
The need for major structural reform takes us well beyond the health portfolio as it is currently conceived. Our failure to invest in preventative health care, and the way we waste health resources have major economic consequences. Any government that is serious about micro-economic management must be concerned about the structural problems of health. Tony Abbott speaks of health as a ‘dog's breakfast', but has made no serious effort to fix the mess.
Fellow Nigerians, must we wait for the health care system to collapse completely before we address the rot? A proper health care reform agenda should be embarked upon by the present government. If this is not done, we are doomed for healthcare disaster in no distant future. As a major but important step, square pegs should be placed in square holes. The banking industry is flushing today because of the reforms through recapitalization, it was a painful process for many initially, but today the country is better in that sector. We need this reform in the healthcare sector; it is a matter of urgency.