The Cross River State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm over the increase in patronage of quack doctors and herbal medicine sellers in the state.
Several doctors who spoke during a workshop to mark the state NMA 2016 Physicians’ Week in Calabar expressed worry over the nation’s economic recession, which they said is affecting virtually every facet of life in the country.
According to them, the situation required urgent attention, as cost of living is increasing on daily basis.
Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr Thomas Agan, who declared the event open, said the theme “Health care in a frail economy,” was apt.
In a lecture, titled, “Healthcare in a fragile Economy, the guest lecturer, Dr. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, spoke on the benefits of a functional healthcare system and the need for private public partnership in healthcare.
Other topics touched by Ikpeme include ‘the role of leadership and governance;’ the consequences of a weak economy on health care; ‘health information system; ‘sources of health financing and ‘service delivery’ among several other issues affecting the sector.
Dr. Ikpeme stressed the need to strengthen institutions and governance, improve intra-and inter-sectoral communication and health information among others.