The Senate at the plenary on Thursday passed through second reading, a Bill seeking for an Act to establish the Health Infrastructure Development Agency to provide a comprehensive framework to guide the planning, financing, construction, maintenance, and regulation of healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria. The proposed legislation, titled 'Bill for an Act to establish Health Infrastructure…
Leading the debate on its general principles, Ngwu, who represents Enugu West senatorial district, explained that the bill seeks to promotes development and improvement of healthcare infrastructure so as to enhance healthcare access, quality, and delivery across the country. Making reference to a report by the International Trade Administration, which states that Nigeria is still underdeveloped, lacks modern medical facilities and its healthcare indicators are some of the worst in Africa, Ngwu recalled that to reverse this trend, government approved the second National Strategic Health Development Plan .
Senator Ngwu said: “Healthcare infrastructure constitutes a major component of the structural quality of a health system. It is a key pillar that supports the aim of promoting improved standard of medical care and wellbeing. The Bill outlines the responsibilities and powers of a Board, emphasizes collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, and provides for the issuance of regulations and guidelines to support effective implementation of its objectives.
The Senate at the plenary on Thursday passed through second reading, a Bill seeking for an Act to establish the Health Infrastructure Development Agency to provide a comprehensive framework to guide the planning, financing, construction, maintenance, and regulation of healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria.
As part of ongoing efforts to address the hardships faced by the citizenry, the House of Representatives has called on the authorities to reactivate the Price Control Board of Nigeria.