FG Orders Medical Directors to Prioritize Patient Care, Prevent Hospital Strikes

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has issued a clear directive to newly appointed Medical Directors of Federal Medical Centres, emphasizing the critical need to enhance patient care and proactively avert industrial disputes. This mandate underscores the administration's commitment to ensuring the seamless delivery of healthcare services across the nation.

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I want to encourage you to be fully abreast of government policies and ensure they are reflected in everything you do.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, stressed the importance of aligning hospital operations with government policies. He urged the appointees to foster an environment of peace within their institutions by maintaining an "open-door policy" with health workers and unions. Salako highlighted that early resolution of issues through dialogue is paramount to preventing disruptions that could compromise patient well-being.

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Keep an open-door policy with unions and continuously engage them. Whatever issues can be resolved early through dialogue should be addressed promptly.

A significant point of emphasis was the unequivocal stance against the denial of patient access to care. The ministry made it clear that any situation where patients are turned away will not be tolerated. To bolster accountability and patient feedback mechanisms, a task force on clinical governance and patient safety has been instituted, with Medical Directors expected to establish similar systems within their respective hospitals.

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A situation where patients are turned back will not be accepted.

Addressing human resource challenges, the Minister encouraged the Medical Directors to leverage the government's fast-track waiver system for recruitment, acknowledging existing staffing gaps. He called upon those reappointed for a second term to elevate their performance, while urging new appointees to justify the confidence placed in them by President Bola Tinubu. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, represented by Kamil Shoretire, echoed these sentiments, calling for clear improvements in performance and a stronger commitment to the well-being of Nigerians.

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We are challenged in terms of human resources, but there is now a faster process for employment. Some Medical Directors are slow to act — we expect you to do better.