By  CHIOMA OBINNA

THE Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Lagos State Branch last week engaged its members in a business entrepreneurship session with a charge to draw up a succession plan that would ensure that their health facilities out lived them.

Giving the charge, a Consultant with the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association, NECA, Mrs Aderoju Odunsi tasked medical doctors to look beyond the theatres and build a stronger structure for their hospitals that would stand the test of time.

Odunsi noted that for health facilities to break even, medical doctors must operate hospitals as businesses enterprises.

On the negative attitude of some health workers towards their patients, she urged the medical practitioners to ensure routine training for their staff so as to equip them with best practices that is line with global trend.

In his presentation, a  Consultant with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Mr. Benjamin Ben encouraged smaller hospitals to team up and form bigger hospitals adding that such merger could make it possible for them to obtain loans from financial institutions.“Though, the issue of customers not wanting to pay for health care services demonstrates lack of appreciation for the provided services, but patients will pay if they find the right services at the right location.”

Newly appointed commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Barrister Abimbola Akeredolu urged doctors to remove the garb of timidity, which they always use to robe themselves. “If you do not market yourself, no one will do that for you,” she added.

Chairman, AGPMPN in Lagos, Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo stated: “The doctors in Lagos are prepared to operate beyond the heart sounds, sinus rhythm, arrhythmias, and murmurs of the stethoscope.”