Bill on scheme of policy will improve patients and workers’ welfare- Dr. Odunubi

The Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Dr. Rotimi Odunubi has said that the scheme of policy bill in deliberation in the National Assembly will come out to improve patients and health workers’ welfare for better service delivery.

He made this known on Tuesday, while representing the Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire in a social-scientific conference and annual general meeting of National Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON) at Alausa, Lagos.

Dr. Odunubi stressed that the conference was meant to help harmonize health workers in Nigeria to share and gain knowledge in the profession to achieve a common ground in the health sector.
Odunubi urged the federal government to provide electronics record keeping process in the health care service delivery that will enhance greater efficiency on record management in tertiary health institutions.

While speaking on the role of the Ministry toward social health workers, he made it clear that the ministry recognizes AMSWON’s roles in social health care delivery and encouraged them to continue with professionalism to enhance better service delivery for patients to benefit maximum health care.

He said that although the scheme of service may be pending by the National Assembly, “I hope they have a regulatory body responsible for regulating the health care profession.”
Dr. Odunubi on his final note disclosed that the scheme of policy will come out to encourage health workers and hospitals to train and retrain her staff for more competence in service delivery.
Also speaking, the president of AMSWON, Comrade Abubakar Alhassan said that Medical social workers primary responsibility is to promote and protect abuse and social right of patients.

“Medical Social Workers are there to support patients, as a lot of people go to the hospital not necessarily physical ill but some are psyco- social and it will be very difficult for non-medical social personnel to handle such patient.”

On the challenges of AMSWON, Alhassan said, “there is no enabling law but with the current bill in deliberation which has passed the first reading, we hope it becomes law to better the service of health care delivery in Nigeria.”