Makinde’s Investment in Healthcare Delivery in Oyo: A Model for Nigeria

By Abubakar Yusuf

For Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), investment in healthcare delivery has remained a major priority of his administration over the past seven years.

The administration’s healthcare policy has focused on providing basic, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities while ensuring that residents across different segments of society have access to quality medical services in a conducive environment.

The philosophy is simple: a healthy population is fundamental to a productive and prosperous society. Consequently, the provision of accessible and quality healthcare has remained an important component of the Makinde administration’s development agenda in Oyo State.

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Upgrading Primary Healthcare Centres

As part of its broader healthcare strategy, the administration embarked on the rehabilitation and upgrading of primary healthcare centres across the 33 local government areas of the state.

The initiative also extended to general hospitals established decades ago, many of which required significant rehabilitation and modernisation to meet the changing healthcare needs of the population.

The administration’s approach has been to create a healthcare system capable of delivering effective services at the grassroots while strengthening secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions.

Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals

Another major component of the administration’s healthcare policy has been the recruitment of healthcare professionals.

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical personnel have been employed to strengthen the workforce across state-owned health facilities.

The policy is aimed at ensuring that healthcare institutions are adequately staffed and capable of providing quality services to residents.

The administration also pursued improved welfare for healthcare workers through the implementation of specialised salary structures, including the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

The objective, according to the policy direction of the administration, is to encourage professionalism, dedication and competitiveness while improving the overall quality of healthcare delivery.

Drugs, Equipment and Hospital Infrastructure

The provision of essential medicines and medical equipment has also formed part of the administration’s healthcare intervention.

The establishment of revolving funds for the procurement of drugs and hospital equipment is intended to improve the availability of essential medical supplies across healthcare facilities.

These interventions are designed to complement infrastructure development and ensure that healthcare facilities are not only available but also capable of delivering meaningful services to patients.

Strengthening Tertiary Healthcare

At the tertiary level, efforts were also made to strengthen healthcare delivery through the development of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) in Oyo.

The development followed the resolution of the longstanding ownership issues surrounding the former LAUTECH teaching hospital in Osun State, which had been jointly associated with the old Oyo and Osun states.

The establishment and development of the teaching hospital in Oyo was therefore presented as part of efforts to provide a stronger tertiary healthcare institution for residents of the state.

The administration also established the Iseyin campus of the state university, with the expectation that the development would stimulate educational, healthcare and other socio-economic opportunities in the area and surrounding communities.

Healthcare as a Development Priority

The combined efforts in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare have brought healthcare development closer to communities across Oyo State.

From the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres to the recruitment of professionals, provision of drugs and equipment, and strengthening of tertiary healthcare institutions, the administration has continued to place healthcare among the major pillars of its development agenda.

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For supporters of Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition, the experience in Oyo State provides a basis for arguing that similar policies could be applied at the national level if he emerges as Nigeria’s President.

Nigeria’s healthcare sector continues to face challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, shortage of medical personnel and limited access to quality healthcare in many communities.

The expectation among Makinde’s supporters is that his experience in Oyo State could inform a broader national healthcare strategy aimed at improving access, infrastructure, manpower and quality of medical services.

If elected President, Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), is expected by his supporters to make healthcare delivery a major cornerstone of his administration and pursue reforms designed to bring Nigeria’s healthcare system closer to international standards.

Written by Abubakar Yusuf, National Publicity Secretary, Allied People’s Movement (APM).