President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the creation of a Health Sector Reform Committee to partner with state governments and the FCT administration on how to develop the nation’s health sector.
The committee, to be chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, would undertake a review of all healthcare reforms adopted in the past two decades as well as lessons learnt, and factor them into the development of the new health sector reform programme.
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the committee would function for a period of six months.
Members of the committee will include private and public sector health care management professionals, development partners, representatives from the National Assembly, as well as the Nigeria Governors Forum among others.
“The committee will undertake a review of all healthcare reforms adopted in the past two decades and lessons learnt and factor them into the development of the new health sector reform programme,” the statement said.
“The committee which is set up for a period of six months under the chairmanship of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has members drawn from private and public sector health care management professionals, development partners, representatives from the National Assembly, as well as the Nigeria Governors Forum among others.”
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The members include Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, Alex Okoh; a Professor in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London and Director of the UCL Institute for Global Health, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar among others.
According to Shehu, the setting up of the committee is sequel to a health sector diagnostic review report developed by a consultant, Vesta Healthcare Partners and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Vesta Healthcare Partners and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are to serve as resources persons and have observer roles in the committee.
Meanwhile, the President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Dr Ifedayo Adetifa as the new Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Adetifa replaces former NCDC Chief, Chikwe Ihekweazu, who recently got a new job as the Assistant Director-General of Health Emergency Intelligence at the World Health Organisation (WHO).
