Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), constitutional lawyer and leader of eminent group of Nigerians, The Patriots, in this piece, spells out the nature and character of the proposed National Conference, its primal purpose and modus operandi

The name conveys the impression of excellence and standardization. To someone from outside, it is the best clinic with state-of-the-art equipment which should also boast of qualified medical personnel judging from the fact that it is owned by the second arm of the federal government that appropriates monies for all the government expenditure on yearly basis.

The recent mid-term assessment of the state of public hospitals in Ogun State by the Nigerian Medical Association has shown that there is an abysmal failure in the health sector despite the fact that health is the second on the seven-point agenda of the government.

The present government in Abia state is making efforts to refurbish the health sector. In the last two years or thereabout, the government has established two ultra modern Diagnostic Centres in Umuahia, the state capital and Aba, the commercial city.

THE Healthcare facilities in Cross River State comprise significantly of those owned and operated by the Federal Government which are the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH and the Psychiatric Hospital both located in Calabar; and the state government owned secondary and primary healthcare institutions which are spread all over the state.