Provost of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola has said that doctors should be more patient focused because in the process of fighting for their rights, patients must not be killed.
Ogunsola who spoke at a ceremony the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH) organised for its doctors recently inaugurated as Fellows of the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Physicians.
Ogunsola said “We have the Health Act but professionals must focus on it to be implemented. There has been too much politicisation with many groups wanting power or control of the sector instead of focusing on patients.
“Whether we like it or not, the doctor is the head but not the boss of the health team. We must ask ourselves, what makes a professional the head of the health team? I am not talking about academic qualifications but in terms of patients’ care. I am talking about one who has deeper knowledge of patients and knows many things about every aspect of health care system.
“It is the responsibility of doctors and that is why they must be patient-focused. Doctors will fight for their rights for better welfare and the equipment but as we are fighting, we must not kill the patients in the process.
“Our oath is to save lives and as we fight authorities, we must not forget the reason why we are fighting: to ensure that patients live. So our actions must not add to their suffering.”