Awka:The Medical Director of Rock Foundation Hospital, Dr. Chukwudi Njelita, has urged the Federal Government to establish a specialized bank to provide funding for health sector start-ups.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Njelita emphasized the need for this initiative to help overcome the financial barriers in setting up private clinics and offering advanced medical services. Although healthcare services have improved in Nigeria, they still fall short due to limited access to doctors at the community level.
Dr. Njelita highlighted various challenges faced by private health practitioners, such as the high cost of specialized medical services. Setting up a private clinic has become increasingly expensive, with a current doctor’s annual salary unable to cover the rent for a facility.
To address these issues, Dr. Njelita proposed the creation of a “Bank of Health,” similar to those for agriculture and industry, to provide discounted loans for critical health infrastructure. He noted that specialized equipment, such as machines for prostate surgery and laser kidney stone operations, are prohibitively expensive for many doctors.
He also suggested government partnerships with skilled doctors, offering concessionary loans to develop quality private hospitals. Additionally, he called for tax waivers and holidays to encourage investment in the health sector.
To combat brain drain, Dr. Njelita recommended closing the salary gap between Nigerian-trained doctors and their international counterparts by offering competitive pay and tax incentives. He advocated for home-based doctors to earn at least 70% of what they could earn abroad, potentially reducing doctor emigration by up to 50%.
Dr. Njelita stressed the importance of producing more doctors and creating favorable conditions for them to remain in Nigeria through gainful employment and accessible start-up opportunities.