Tukur Muntari
Citing the economic hardship, the Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to subsidise consumables and other cardiac surgery services for Nigerians.
The call was contained in a statement signed by the National President and Secretary of the association, Prof. Anietimfon Etiuma and Dr. Ibrahim Delia, a copy of which was made available to The Punch on Sunday.
The statement added that the call was necessary because the dependency on imported consumables in cardiac surgery has led to increased costs with current exchange rate surges of the Naira.
“During the 6th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of ACTSON in Benin City, Edo State from 22nd to 24th April 2024, special attention was given to the impact of the economic challenges including the exchange rate of the naira on the importation of cardiovascular surgery equipment, appliances and consumables.
“To mitigate this, there is an urgent need for government subsidies on these consumables and waivers on import duties so as to ensure affordability and accessibility of cardiac surgery services to numerous Nigerians in dire need.
“The 2024 World Heart Day is being celebrated globally today (29th September) under the theme: ‘Use Heart for Action’ to support individuals who care for their hearts and empower them to urge leaders to take cardiovascular health seriously by providing a global platform for action,” it said.
The association also stressed the need for the government to include cardiac and thoracic surgeries in health insurance schemes in view of the importance of health insurance coverage.
“The government should sponsor through special intervention funds, an annual quota of 1000 cardiovascular surgery cases per annum done in Nigeria through the insurance platform to enhance accessibility to critical surgical interventions.
“Tertiary centres demonstrating capacity in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery should be strengthened, funded, and incentivized. This will facilitate the provision of high-quality surgical care and contribute to the overall advancement of the specialty and keep them in the service of the nation,” the statement said.
It further called for the training of cardiothoracic surgeons across the country to ensure comprehensive coverage of cardiovascular and thoracic surgical services nationwide.
“This will address the shortage of specialists and improve access to care for patients in underserved regions.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to promoting excellence in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery through continued professional development, training, and research initiatives.
While stressing the need for increased public awareness campaigns regarding preventive measures and early detection of cardiovascular diseases, the association called for improved access to quality cardiovascular and thoracic surgical care across the country to ensure equitable healthcare delivery.
“The association remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the standards of practice, training, global collaboration and improving patient outcomes in Nigeria,” It added.
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