Raphael Ede, Enugu
A right activist, Mr. Chris Chukwu, has called on the Federal Government to adopt the World Health Organisation (WHO) model to resolve the age-long lingering rivalry and crisis between health workers and doctors.
Chukwu made the call in a statement title: “Disharmony in Nigeria Health Industry: WHO style of Leadership should be Adopted to Restore Peace (Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, a case study).
According to him, the Healthcare Delivery Team (HDT) comprises doctor, nurse, medical laboratory scientist, dentist, pharmacist, radiographer, orderlies, stressing that the list is endless, “every member of the HDT must discharge his or her duties altruistically with the patient in perspective”.
He explained that WHO has severally painted a picture of what acceptable healthcare delivery should look like which should comprised a healthcare delivery team with the patient at the centre.
“The patient is the reason all healthcare professionals exist, paid huge salaries and are respected in the society
“The UN agency have proven to be responsible for providing leadership on global health matters by electing the best, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the WHO Director-General.
“Tedros was elected for a five-year term by WHO Member States at the 70th World Health Assembly in May 2017.
“He is the first WHO Director-General to have been elected from multiple candidates by the World Health Assembly, and is the first person from the WHO African Region to serve as WHO’s chief technical and administrative officer.
“By training, Tedros has qualifications in Biology (BSc.) from Asmara University (1986); Immunology of Infectious Diseases (MSc.) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2000; and Community Health from Nottingham University (PhD) in later years.
“Tedros had served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health from 2005–2012, where he led a comprehensive reform of the country’s health system.
“He demonstrated what it takes to expand access to health care with limited resources,’’ he said.
According to him, by profession Tedros is not a medical doctor, that is to say that any member of the Healthcare Delivery Team (HDT) can head the health sector as Minister, Commissioner, CMD among other.
Chukwu noted that a mono-professional headship of the poly-professional health sector remains the reason for “preferential treatment of one over many which have led to continuous fight and instability in health industry’’.
He said the Federal Government should follow WHO style (World standard) of leadership in the health sector; while appointing leaders who had the capacity and capability to represent the healthcare delivery team.
“A leader (or headship) with technical competence and managerial skills. A leader who is not bias and will place the patient as his priority,’’ he added.
Indeed, this how Health system should look like . A team of Health experts working together with the PATIENT at the center of their perspective at all times. Not the one monopolized by one expert/profession.