ICPC Poised to Tackle Corruption in Health Sector, Chairman Says
Abuja, July 18, 2024 – The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to tackle corruption in the health sector, its Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, has announced.
Dr. Aliyu made this known at a one-day conference on Engendering Corruption-Free Primary Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria, organized by the ICPC. The conference had the theme “Corruption-Free Healthcare Delivery for All.”
According to the ICPC Chairman, the commission is putting in place measures to ensure corruption-free primary healthcare delivery in the country. He explained that the conference is specifically organized to stimulate discussions that will help improve service delivery devoid of windows for corrupt tendencies in the Health Sector.
Dr. Aliyu said that corruption had become a major challenge in the health sector, citing the procurement of substandard equipment, fake drugs, revenue leakages, and inflated health bills as some of the immediate results of corruption.
The ICPC Chairman emphasized the need to adopt a holistic approach in tackling the menace across the country, calling for the adoption of a public health approach to making the PHC system corruption-free.
He also identified blocks of the health system that must be strengthened to achieve a health service delivery system that would serve the people as envisaged and planned.
Other speakers at the conference, including Rep. Kayode Akiolu, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, and Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services And Environment, FCTA, also emphasized the need to tackle corruption in the health sector.
Rep. Akiolu pledged the National Assembly’s support to fight corruption in the country, while Dr. Fasawe noted with concern that corruption had hampered and continued to bedevil the Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery in Nigeria.
Key Quotes:
- “If corruption is reined in that subsector, the impact will be felt in the health sector as a whole in terms of improved working conditions for medical professionals, better service delivery and improvement in the health of citizens.” – Rep. Kayode Akiolu
- “Corruption is worse than a pandemic – procurement of substandard equipment, fake drugs, revenue leakages, and inflated health bills are some of the immediate results of corruption.” – Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe
- “The Governance and Leadership building block is very key to engendering the corruption-free Primary Health Care delivery for all.” – Dr. Muyi Aina
The ICPC’s commitment to tackling corruption in the health sector is a welcome development, and the conference was a step in the right direction. With the support of the National Assembly and other stakeholders, the ICPC can make a significant impact in combating corruption in the health sector and improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
