It had been advocated in the past that top Government Officials should make use of health facilities available here in Nigeria when tackling conditions that can be satisfactorily handled by our health professionals, instead of spending our “national cake” abroad at the slightest aching of the head.
At last, a bill to curtail this attitude by some unscrupulous and unpatriotic Government Officials is not only in the pipeline but is to be presented to the Federal Executive council (FEC), this year.
This was stated over the weekend by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, during the presentation of his score card to the press.
However, the Minister said before the measure can be fully taken, there has to be a compiled list of health facilities that could handle specific ailments that Nigerians often go abroad to treat.
“It is correct to say the Federal Government will not sponsor any case that can be satisfactorily handled in Nigeria. We are still at the level of the top management committee of the Health Ministry. It is a long process, we do not want to send a half-baked memo to the FEC, so it has to be well thought out and we have to carry people along.
“It is not enough for the Minister of Health to ask the President-in-Council that we should no longer sponsor public servants for what can be handled in Nigeria. We should know where these cases can be handled here,” said Prof. Chukwu.
Similarly, Chukwu disclosed that, the proposed bill has been undergoing careful regular editing and compilation since last year, and would become effective this year.