Standing Committee on Ethics and Discipline on Health Inaugurated
In an effort to fulfill part of its mandates that is ensuring adequate protection of health of the people of the state, the Kano State Ministry of Health has inaugurated a Standing Committee on Ethics and Discipline on Health.
Inaugurating the Committee in his office, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said that the Kano state government is in receipt of considerable number of information pointing accusing fingers on some health practitioners for unprofessional practices that drag patients into untold hardships.
Dr. Labaran assured that the ministry wouldn’t fold up its arms and allow life of people being threatened unabated, lamenting that this has gone contrary to the commitment and political will of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf of ensuring socioeconomic wellbeing of his people.
“To overcome this menace, I see it imperative upon my humble self to form a standing committee that will be looking into any health issue affecting our people with a view to solve it once and for all.
“I wish to inform people of Kano state that their life is very vital in the sight of His Excellency, and as custodians of health sector, it is our responsibility to safeguard it.” he emphasized.
The Commissioner charged members of the committee to work diligently without fear so as to protect the wellbeing of the people by not allowing violation of ethics and standard of practice to affect life of the people.
He further charged them to also look into the case of diversion of patients rampantly reported from government facilities to private ones, and all other things they believe will assist the health amiable governor to achieve his positive objectives on healthcare system.
The Commissioner assured people of the state that the committee would be entertaining disciplinary cases from both public and private facilities for the betterment of the system that everybody would be proud of, as its members were of highest calibre that have been strategically selected based on their track record of service to humanity.
Responding, the Committee Chairman who is also the Director General of the Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), Prof. Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, assured Dr. Labaran that they will work to the best of their abilities to checkmate laxity and other unprofessional practices hampering health of the people in the health facilities, both government owned and private.
He lauded the Commissioner for entrusting them with the responsibility, assuring him that they will discharge the assignment with objectivity devoid of favour, and whoever found guilty would be punished according to the standard rules and regulations of the medical best practices.
Members of the Committee include the Executive Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, Coordinator of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control Prof. Muhammad A. Abbas and the Chairman Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association Kano State Branch, Prof. Usman Idris Takai.
Others are Director Medical Services of the Ministry Dr. Shehu Abdullahi Usman, Pharm. Aliyu Adamu a retired civil servant, Dr. Tanko Zakari from the Guild of Medical Directors, Rep. from the Joint Health Sector Union Nigeria (JUHESU), while the Director Nursing Services of the Ministry Abdullahi Garba Harbau would serve as the Secretary.
Signed:
Ibrahim Abdullahi
Information Officer
Ministry of Health
5 January 2024