Nigeria’s Health Minister, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, has warned against setting up new health institutions that could duplicate existing ones, especially with the country’s limited resources. He made the statement during a public hearing on bills to establish several new health institutions, including a National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Research, and Treatment Center in Kano.
Represented by Dr. Jimoh Salahudeen, Pate explained that cardiovascular care and research are already being carried out effectively in multiple federal teaching hospitals across the country, especially in the North-West. He pointed out that the creation of a new institute would place an unnecessary financial burden on the government.
The minister also highlighted the role of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in coordinating health research across the country and emphasized the importance of strengthening existing hospitals and training institutions rather than creating new ones.
Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, chairman of the committee, agreed with the minister’s concerns, noting that the migration of health workers abroad is a major challenge for the healthcare system. He stressed that the Federal Government must ensure that healthcare institutions are distributed fairly across the country, particularly in rural areas, to improve access to quality care.
