Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has reminded federal tertiary hospitals of the imperatives of ensuring compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) checklist for surgical safety, saying it reduces and eliminates errors and negligence that are often hazardous to patients.

Chukwu issued the directive during a meeting with the Forum of Chairmen of Boards of Federal Tertiary Institutions in his office in Abuja.

The minister, who likened the WHO checklist to the safety checklist observed by pilots before the takeoff of an aircraft, said it improves the safety of surgery by reducing complications and deaths.

He recalled the dismissal of some consultants and resident doctors in some federal hospitals for negligence, saying that if the checklist is used as a standard procedure in our hospitals, the unfortunate incidences that led to the sack of the doctors would have been avoided.

Lamenting that most  criticisms against the Federal Ministry of Health arise from the situations in the hospitals, and mandated the forum to take necessary actions to ensure the realization of President Goodluck Jonathan’s vision for health.

Chukwu listed critical areas of intervention such as environmental hygiene, out-of-stock syndrome in pharmacies, long waiting time and quality of services to patients.

Earlier, Chairman of the Forum of Boards of Federal Tertiary Institutions, Colonel Austin Akobundu (rtd) said the forum could be an instrument for action driven health policies for Nigeria.

He sought  support of the Minister to the Boards in their determination to use the principles of SERVICOM and Clinical Governance and Accountability to ensure prompt, efficient and pleasant services at all levels.

They would actively work to promote a harmonious work relationship for greater productivity through improvement of work environment, reward for excellence and high productivity, and fair punishment for wrongdoing.