NCH approves additional guideline for establishment of private hospitals
Health professionals wishing to establish private hospitals are now required to have undergone a two-year supervised work from completion of NYSC scheme.
The new guideline for establishing private medical practice is one of the decisions reached at the just-concluded 50th National Council on Health (NCH) in Abuja.
The guideline said, ``any health professional willing to set up a private independent practice must have undergone a period of supervised work lasting two years from completion of NYSC and three years for those exempted from NYSC''.
The decision, the council explained, ``is in the interest of the safety of the public''.
The council observed that the guideline became necessary following observations that many health facilities were headed by newly qualified, and therefore inexperienced personnel.
The council also endorsed a draft policy on health human resources development, just as it approved the introduction of intra-mural private practice in government hospitals.
It said that such practice should revolve around a medical team led by a consultant with other professionals as participants.
The council also approved a draft national policy on healthcare financing with a call on relevant stakeholders to play their roles in its implementation.
On health research, the Council endorsed the draft national code for health research ethics and the establishment of a national health research ethics committee.
It urged the federal ministry of health to develop the needed sub-codes to address the protection in priority areas, as well as research involving vulnerable groups.
The council which deliberated on the incidence of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), called on states to ensure that the political and financial support necessary for its prevention, management and rehabilitation of patients was provided.
It encouraged states to combine efforts with private sector in setting up quality control laboratories within central medical stores for the detection of counterfeit and sub-standard pharmaceutical products.
The NCH noted the current steps towards achieving health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and approved that the federal ministry of health facilitated MDG needs assessment and MDG costing for Nigeria.
On maternal, neo-natal and child health, the council approved the draft national policy on the health and development of adolescents and young people in Nigeria, and the strategic framework for its implementation.
It ratified for implementation, the draft strategic plan of action on infant and young child feeding in Nigeria, and commended the efforts of states in initiating strategies and programmes aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality.
The council reviewed the Safe Motherhood Initiative, Supply-Side and Demand-Side committees in Jigawa state, and the free healthcare programmes for vulnerable groups by Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers states.