Minister seeks compulsory health insurance
Reps may ban energy drinks
WORRIED by the deteriorating healthcare delivery in the country, the Senate President, David Mark, Tuesday in Asaba expressed the determination of the National Assembly to accelerate the passage of the National Health Bill.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has urged the National Assembly to enshrine compulsory health insurance for all Nigerians in the planned new constitution. Also, in a move to ban the importation of energy drinks in the country, the House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Health and Commerce to investigate the importation, distribution, sales and health implication of all brands of caffeinated energy drinks in Nigeria.
Mark, who spoke at the ongoing Health Summit in the Delta State capital, Asaba, tasked the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to be prepared to contribute their quota in form of professional viewpoint that would chart a positive roadmap on national health programmes.
He advised the body not to stand aloof and allow non-professionals in the sector to design the healthcare programme but rather, should make critical input to any health bill or programme. On his part, Chukwu announced that the new National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would make healthcare delivery affordable and accessible to the people.
The minister told The Guardian in Abuja that a good national healthcare delivery programme is central to economic development of the nation, explaining that for that reason, the Federal Government would pursue a laudable healthcare delivery programme that would sustain the nation's manpower need.
He stressed that the National Health Insurance amendment bill was on course at the National Assembly, assuring that the issue of compulsory health insurance would adequately be taken care of there.
Meanwhile, the House's decision followed the adoption, without debate, of a motion brought by Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu, who raised the alarm on the consumption of the product which he said "if not checked, can lead to Nigeria experiencing high mortality rate and other caffeine-induced health disorders."
Bush-Alebiosu further warned that "several brands of energy drinks such as red bull, powerhorse, vault, red alert and burn, among others, contain high levels of ingredients and stimulants that pose dangerous health risks such as kidney damage, seizures and strokes, even life-threatening effects on blood pressure, heart and brain function."
