Tinubu Sends 24 Health Sector Reform Bills To HOR

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted 24 health sector amendment bills to the House of Representatives, seeking reforms aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery across federal health institutions and regulatory bodies.

The bills were conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the House by the Speaker of the House, Dr Tajuddeen Abbas in line with Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to the president, the proposed legislation followed a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, acting on a directive of the Federal Executive Council.

The review focused on streamlining what the president described as “over-bloated” governing board structures of health institutions to enhance effectiveness and accountability.

The proposed bills cover tertiary health institutions, including university teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, specialty hospitals, orthopedic hospitals and the National Hospital for Women and Children in Abuja.

Others target regulatory agencies and professional bodies in the health sector, including amendments to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria Act, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act.

Additional bills seek amendments to laws governing optometrists, radiographers, dental technologists, community health practitioners, medical rehabilitation therapists, and the National Blood Service Agency.

Also included are bills establishing a records officers and digital health framework, as well as a Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

President Tinubu urged lawmakers to consider and pass the bills expeditiously.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji