In continuation of its health sector reform, the Edo State government has concluded the validation of fresh healthcare policies that will define the standard of practice in the sector while also establishing a regulatory system in the state.
Welcoming participants to the workshop held at the state’s new Secretariat complex, the Commissioner for Health, Prof Obehi Akoria said the ministry is prioritising healthcare regulation “because we know that service delivery, healthcare financing and training institution of our dream will only deliver in line with our goals and aspiration if there is an appropriate regulation”.
“The role of Service Providers and ensuring access to health care is in the purview of hospital management Agency for secondary Care; the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency for Primary Health Care while the Traditional Medicine Board is for complementary and alternative medicine.” In his presentation titled “Healthcare Regulation: Introducing a Paradigm Shift” the director of regulation and Monitoring, Dr Stanley Ehiarimwian told participants that the goal of his directorate is to ensure that qualified health personnel operate in the state, providing the best care to clients within acceptable standards enshrined in the relevant laws and guidelines.
Ehiarimwian, however, admitted that the directorate would not be able to carry out the task alone, saying other institutions such as Civil Society organisations, security agencies, religious groups, traditional institutions, the media and academia would all be expected to join the Ministry to stamp out quackery and ensure standards in all areas of health care delivery in the state.
The Programme Director SafeCare, PharmAccess Foundation Nigeria, Dr Ibironke Dada, in her presentation, disclosed that PharmAcess decided to partner with the state to assist the government in achieving its health improvement programme goals by strengthening regulatory capacity and improving the quality of healthcare services provided in the state.