ERSTWHILE Chief Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer,Ajeromi/Ifelodun General Hospital, Dr. Sunday Oluseye, who recently retired from active  service, is an ardent believer in leadership by example. Oluseye, who argues that health cannot be completely free says he does not believe  doctors should go on strike.
In this interview with GABRIEL OLAWALE, he speaks on a number of  related issues and  the way forward for the Nigerian health sector. Excerpts:

EXPERIENCE: In the beginning it was not easy and for me to peak in my career, but with God on my side, I rose to become  Consultant and Chief Medical Director in two General Hospitals. I had my  disappointments, but I saw such periods as challenges that I had to overcome and I did.

To be a leader you must apply love instead of law. Making people to follow instruction is not a matter of stick alone, it is carrot and stick that need to go hand-in-hand. Apart from that, you must lead by example.

Most challenging period:It is not all the time you can have your wish, I remember the time I wanted to go for my Residency, I was only given permission to go but not actually sponsored. So I had to appeal to the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital that eventually intervened. I may be trying my best  but my best may not be enough as judged by my superior.

Current state of health: Before I became the Chief Medical Director about 13 years ago, the health sector was nothing to write about. Back then, we regularly  experienced out-of-stock syndrome. Drugs would be prescribed to the patient but none was available in the hospital. We were unable to manage patients. But since 2008 when Health Reform was put in place by the Former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, a lot has greatly improved.

We are not only getting consultation but patients are getting drugs. They are being managed and there is discipline. What also interests me is the commitment of Governor Babatunde Fashola in ensuring that all hospitals in the state are functioning well.

Area for adjustment: I am not totally in support of free healthcare. I believe health should not be free totally because there is a lot of responsibility on government. Rather, they should make people pay but the payment should be subsidised.

Strike in the health sector
We are all human, so we have the right to complain when things are not the way we desire. However, as doctors they have the right to complain. But for once I don’t believe in strikes because people’s lives are endangered. Although, we also have a right to be comfortable, however there are various ways we can make the authorities listen to us, but when we go on strike as doctors, it is going to the extreme because life will be wasted.

Way forward: In developed countries, doctors hardly go on strike, rather, they employ other options of expressing their grievances. We should look forward to strengthening our capacity for negotiation and those in management should  put the needs of doctors into consideration. It is only through collective collaboration that we can actualise the great Nigeria we are all praying for.