The Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN) has criticised the federal and state governments for failing to implement the Abuja Declaration, which calls for at least 15 percent of national budgets to be allocated to the health sector.
Speaking at the 40th National Professional Development Workshop held in Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, IHSAN National President, Eze Okezie Chijioke, stressed that increased health sector funding would enable both federal and state governments to better meet the health needs of Nigerians.
He noted that such investment would also improve hospital infrastructure, upgrade medical equipment, and help curb the mass exodus of healthcare professionals from the country.
The event, themed “Developing Sustainable Best Practices in Hospital Administration” and hosted by the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI), included the induction of new IHSAN members and the conferral of honorary fellowships. Among the honourees were FETHI Chief Medical Director, Adekunle Ajayi, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ekiti State Ministry of Health, Olusola Gbenga-Igotun.
Excellence awards were also presented to the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Prof. Ajayi; and Prophet Sam Olu Alo, founder of the Olu Alo Foundation.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the five-day event, IHSAN reaffirmed its call for national and state governments to fully implement the Abuja Declaration.
The institute noted that current budgetary allocations to the health sector fall significantly short of the agreed benchmark, posing serious challenges to the delivery of quality healthcare in Nigeria.
