Date: 2021-07-16

A Public Health Physician, Dr Bosede Rotimi, said on Thursday that for Kwara Government to achieve Universal Health Coverage for its masses, the current 900 doctors to 3.5 million people must be addressed.

Rotimi recommended this at the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association, Kwara branch.

Her paper presentation was entitled, ‘Journey to achieving UHC; an appraisal of healthcare delivery in Kwara: challenges, prospects and practicable solutions.’

She explained that the 2020 indices translated to about 0.26 per cent to 1,000 patients, adding that this is not good enough.

Rotimi observed that the doctor-to-patient density, weak human resources, as well as poor regulation of healthcare practices in the state needed to be addressed.

The expert however added that despite these challenges, the state had recorded success and reached some milestone through the establishment of Community Based Health Insurance Scheme and the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme.

Rotimi noted that the state’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Social Investment Programme were all attempts by the government to revamp the healthcare system in the state, saying that these have became prototype for other parts of the country to emulate.

She described UHC as a situation where all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.