The Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Managing Director of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria has recommended a policy to allow hospitals to replace personnel who exited service to guarantee sustained service delivery.

The committee made this recommendation in a communique issued at the end of the 101 Regular Meeting of the Committee and signed by its Chairman, Prof. Auwal Abubakar, on Wednesday in Yola.

It recommended also that in view of the enormous cost of power supply, there was an urgent need for special intervention in order to prevent a shutdown of services in Health facilities across the country.

The committee also observed that the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions continued to play a crucial role in delivering both basic and advanced healthcare services nationwide.

“The continual efforts by all Federal Tertiary Health Institutions to address the monumental challenges of inadequate power supply, coupled with increasing electricity tariffs, and high cost of diesel that is affecting service delivery.

“The continuous mass exit of critical health workforce from our institutions to developed countries, without replacement, therefore affecting the service delivery to Nigerians.

“There are still challenges with the National Health Insurance, especially the unrealistic cost of services and nonpayment of fee-for-service to health institutions by Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs).,” it said.

According to the committee, there should be a review and implementation of appropriate tariffs for services rendered to enrollees to reflect the current economic realities.

It also recommended the enforcement of prompt payment by HMOs for services rendered, in order to guarantee quality health services to Nigerians.

“It is the hope of this committee, that the implementation of these recommendations will ensure continued effective and quality healthcare delivery to our populace,” the committee said.

It also observed the financial burden placed on Federal Health Institutions, by the continuous increment of accreditation fees/costs by regulatory bodies of health institutions.