By Franklin Ali
Medical Director,New Era Specialist Hospital, Dr. Simon Chukwuemeka Okolo, says proper allocation of funds, adequate planning and implementation of healthcare policies are crucial for quality health care delivery in this 21st century.

Okolo opined that well equipped hospitals and clinics can attract health professionals who left the country years ago for greener pasture, to return and help uplift the nation’s  healthcare system.  He said money spent by our leaders and other wealthy Nigerians to travel abroad for treatment is more than enough to start work on a befitting and well equipped hospitals in the country.

“Competitive healthcare system is not beyond this country.  All we need do is to provide the incentives and flexible structures to attract investors to bring in the resources we need to undertake building world class hospitals or  purchase critical health equipment that will help save some life in the country or even attract outside people to come to our country for medical treatment.”

“Our medical practitioners can also learn from the wealth of experience of these investors and health personnel coming back into the country to upgrade their knowhow and transform health care service delivery in the country,” he said.

He added that the nation needs adequate and functional health policy that will enthrone national competitiveness in our health system and attract the capital we need for quality healthcare delivery.

Okolo was of the view that one of the greatest threats to healthy living in the country is the high cost of access to quality healthcare, and this, he observes, has driven many people in the rural and urban centre to seek succor in herbal and prayer homes instead of hospitals.