The Technical Coordinator, Accountability for Maternal and Child Health in Nigeria, a Civil Society Organisation [CSO] health advocacy group, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba has said that it is unreasonable for the government to commercialize medical services beyond the reach of the mass, most especially at the rural areas.
Dr. Garba who expressed concern at a maternity and child health workshop organized in Abuja recently, told Blueprint that it is unreasonable for the government to commercialize treatment processes in the country and place them beyond the reach of the people.
He said: “It’s very unfortunate for government health centers to be charging so much now. We are not saying the hospitals should not charge anything since the facilities need money to survive but there should be more consideration for the low income people who use the services.
“Government should allocate adequate financial resources to health sector, motivate the hospital staff and provide better drugs in health centers.
“There should be no excuse why government hospitals which are supposed to offer cheaper services would turn around to charge the same amount like private hospitals.”
Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba also condemned the arrangement whereby beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Scheme are surcharged in the hospitals before receiving the attention of health workers.
