The West African College of Physicians (WACP), Nigeria chapter, on Saturday, called for sustainable health financing and the use of smart technology in medical training.

WACP made the call in a communiqué from its 50th Annual and General Scientific Meeting (AGSM) in Ibadan. Its chairman, Benjamin Uzochukwu, and national secretary, Sunday Malomo, signed the communiqué.

The meeting, held from July 5 to 11, had the theme “Building Bridges, Forging Resilience and Partnership in Health,” and 434 doctors registered for the event.

The college urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and state health insurance agencies to ensure the full and timely disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

It also called on the federal and state ministries of power, water resources, and sanitation to ensure reliable electricity and water supply in public health facilities across Nigeria.

“The National Primary Health Care Development Agency and State Primary Health Care Development Agencies/Boards should advance equity between urban and rural communities,” the communiqué stated.

The college said that the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and WACP, working with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, should set minimum training infrastructure standards.

“Teaching hospital and federal medical centre boards should strengthen multidisciplinary care, and federal and state ministries of health should design rural-practice incentives to retain doctors.

“The Tertiary Education Trust Fund should expand research support; the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in partnership with WACP, should coordinate diaspora engagement for health development,” it said.

For technology, WACP recommended a three-step model: diagnose gaps, match simple tools, and pilot, then scale.

According to the organisation, technology should complement, not substitute, bedside clinical training.

“The Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, should fund digital infrastructure in medical education.

“The National Universities Commission, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria should set minimum standards for technology-enabled training with WACP.

“On patient experience, chief medical directors and hospital management boards should cut delays, standardise registration and triage, and improve communication on tests, referrals, billing, and timelines,” it stated.

The college also directed consistent referral and feedback loops between facilities.

According to the organisation, hospital quality improvement/clinical governance units should run regular patient-experience surveys and implement rapid fixes. 

(NAN)