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Tag: minister

  • Ministers weep at valedictory session for out-going colleague

    Ministers weep at valedictory session for out-going colleague

    A valedictory session was held on Wednesday for the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, who was attending the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the last time.

    She is billed to resume duties at the United Nations as new Deputy Secretary-General on March 7, 2017.

    Some cabinet members got emotional during the valedictory session as some of them wept.

    Among those who could not hold back tears during the valedictory session was her deputy, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jubril, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Amina Alhassan.

    Amina Mohammed also could not hold back tears during the session.

    All the cabinet members that spoke during the session had good things to say about Amina Mohammed.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who chaired the FEC meeting, described the out-going minister as a role model to millions of youths across the country and lauded her contributions to the government and the society at large.

    He announced that a special valedictory dinner would be held in her honour on Thursday.

    He said “We have always been very fascinated by her incredible understanding of so many different things.

    “It’s actually quite amazing that we have one person who seems to know so much, who is competent in practically everything; finance, planning, environment and even law sometimes,’’ he said.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Amina Mohammed had made the nation proud, saying that the only consolation was that she was leaving to assume high responsibilities.

    He said that Nigerians are confident that she is going to succeed in her new assignment at the UN.

    Others that spoke at the valedictory session included the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Aishat Alhassan; Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Aishat Abubakar and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    Amina Mohammed, 56, had served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

    She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

    She provided advice on issues, including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, as well as coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

    She is an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, serves on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

    Others include the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Programme of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    She is also a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

  • Makarfi still PDP chairman — Ex-PDP ministers

    Makarfi still PDP chairman — Ex-PDP ministers

    The forum of former PDP Ministers, has declared that the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee is still the organ of the party legally charged to handle the affairs of the party.

    Mr Saminu Turaki (SAN) ex-minister of Special Duties, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen after members of the forum met with former President Goodluck Jonathan on the crisis rocking the party.

    Responding to question posed to him by newsmen, Turaki said: “I am aware that an appeal has being launched against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, yesterday – Monday.

    “With the notice of appeal, I am also aware that application for injunction has been filed.

    “The position of the law in a situation like this is that unless that application is taken and decided one way or another, there is an interim injunction.

    “With that therefore, the caretaker committee (under Ahmed Makarfi) continues as the organ that is legally charged to propel the affairs of this party, – PDP.

    “We are here to exchange our ideas with our former leader, the former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on the situation in our party today.’’

    The former minister described the meeting with Jonathan as “lucid, educative and deepening.’’

    He added that the forum was willing to meet any person or group in the party, including Ali Modu Sheriff genuinely interested in resolving the crisis in the party.

    “So, we will meet, we are opened as far as Ali Modu Sheriff, who is also a member of this political party right now.

    “If we feel that we want to see him with a view to moving this consultation forward, why not?’’ he asked.

    Responding to another question, Turaki said: “what we have in PDP today is not something that is new to Nigerian democracy nor is it something new in other developed and advanced democracies.

    “Even when we allow the court or get to the point where the Supreme Court, will have to make pronouncement, we still need each other; we are friends, we are family, we are brothers and sisters.

    “At the end of the day, even between the tongue and teeth, there could be tense moment but it still does not mean that there will not be reconciliation between them.

    “Politics is about interest, so the way and manner you harmonise this seemingly diametrically opposing views and carry everybody along is what determines the sophistication of the political party concern.

    “And I think PDP will do that.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that in it’s a judgment on Friday, the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, recognised Ali Modu Sheriff as the chairman of the PDP.

    The PDP ex-ministers, who met with Jonathan included Esther Nenadi, Osita Chidoka, John Odey, Bala Mohammed and Ibrahim Shekau. (NAN)

  • Minister lauds beauty pageantry

    Minister lauds beauty pageantry

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described beauty pageantry as a catalyst for the growth of the creative sector, hence the need to support it for the emergence of a creative economy.
    The Minister stated this in Abuja on Friday, when the Chairman of Daily Times newspaper, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, formally presented to him the 40th Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obiadi.
    “I look at beauty pageantry as an integral part of the creative industry because when you are organising a pageant like Miss Nigeria, it’s the entire creative industry that you are waking up and you are reviving, starting from the make-up artist to the hairstylist, music, the film industry and you can imagine the kind of economy that is created around just one Miss Nigeria pageantry,” said Alhaji Mohammed.
    Continuing, the Minister said, “I don’t look at Miss Nigeria just from the view point of beautiful ladies prancing on the catwalk and say who is more beautiful. I think it goes beyond that. It’s a catalyst for the creative industry and that’s why it must be encouraged.”
    Alhaji Mohammed also noted that beauty pageantry is a veritable platform for tourism as well as for showcasing the country’s heritage and image.
    “The oldest beauty pageantry I think is the Miss America, which actually started in 1921 and it was primarily because a businessman wanted to attract tourists to his city, New Jersey,” he said.
    “You can see the link between beauty pageantry and tourism, which is one of the portfolios of this ministry.”
    He pledged to use the platform of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to further deepen and popularise the contest.
    In his remarks, Mr. Anosike said the organisation has been working hard to revive the Miss Nigeria Pageantry, which started in 1957, to provide a platform for the empowerment of young women.
    “Coming here today is to be able to revive the age-long tradition and alliance between the Daily Times and the culture and heritage platform, especially now that the Ministry of Information and Culture is properly aligned under the leadership of Alhaji Lai Mohammed that understands strategic communication,” he said.
    Mr. Anosike expressed his willingness to collaborate with the ministry to use the Miss Nigeria platform to promote the ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign of the federal government.
    Also speaking, the 40th Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obiadi, expressed her deep passion about Nigeria because of the country’s rich cultural heritage and values and pledged to promote them during her reign.

  • NLC to minister: no work no pay policy is illegal

    NLC to minister: no work no pay policy is illegal

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that applying the ‘no work no pay’ policy to resolve industrial disagreement will be counter-productive.
    Its General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, said the pronouncement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige on the application of the law, especially where workers issue warning strikes, is antithetical to stemming industrial crises.
    Ngige said warning strikes were unknown to labour laws and that workers who embarked on them would forfeit their pay during such strikes.
    Ozo-Eson said: “We are taken aback by the claims of the minister. Accordingly, we find it necessary to state that whether warning strike is in the corpus of the labour laws or not, unions over the years across all climes use warning strike as a bargaining chip to bring employers to the negotiation table. In other words, it is a tradition that has acquired the force of law.”
    Ozo-Eson insisted that the efficacy of a warning strike could not be in doubt as it is the reason the minister is now negotiating with the representatives of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
    “In the annals of labour history, warning strikes have had the distinguishing feature of saving the parties to disputes the rigours, costs and pains of full-blown strikes. This, the minister, a cerebral mind, a former union leader, very well knows,” he said.
    The NLC scribe wondered why the minister would be canvassing a position that is extreme and intolerant of further dialogue, which is the mainstay of labour/government relations.
    He said labour found it necessary to caution that a hasty resort to legalese as a basis for conflict resolution would not be helpful.
    Ozo-Eson said the truth was that if strikes were guaranteed by the law, labour hadfailed to see how warning strikes could be illegal, adding that the NLC does not intend to resort to partisanship, but quite often, an interpretation of the law falls short of its intention.
    He insisted that warning strikes would continue to be part of labour’s engagement with all employers, including government, when necessary “and we believe we are deserving of commendation for this thoughtfulness/discretion and not vilification”.

  • Labour minister to Nigerians: improve productivity

    Labour minister to Nigerians: improve productivity

    •President to present productivity awards

    Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige has urged Nigerians to strive towards improved productivity in tandem with the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to the minister, the agenda was aimed at sustainable growth of the nation.

    Ngige spoke while briefing the media on the activities marking the celebration of the 16th National Productivity Day and conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) award on deserving individuals and organisations.

    The award will be presented tomorrow by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said: “I wish to appeal to Nigerians to reflect deeply on the significance of this celebration, especially in the face of Mr. President’s Change Agenda and our vision of bringing the economy out of recession to a path of steady growth and prosperity.

    “We should constantly strive to improve our productivity in all facets of our daily lives towards ensuring sustainable growth and development of our dear nation.”

    The minister added that the present administration was conscious of the critical role improved productivity could play in the realisation of the change agenda, “as no nation can be self-reliant and competitive in the international market without productivity improvement in all sectors of its economy”.

    “Indeed, no nation enjoys a standard of living higher than its level of productivity.” He affirmed.

    Ngige emphasised that the National Productivity Order of Merit award was one positive step by government to stimulate the psyche of Nigerians towards redirecting their efforts to the growth of the economy.

    He explained that the 16th edition would witness the conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit award on 15 deserving individuals and six organisations.

    The awardees are: Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Mrs. Mary Adenike Ibikunle, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Aliyu, Mr. Olubola Olakunle Aikulola, Mr. Idi Mohammed Maleh, Mrs. Elizabeth Igelegba, Mr. Aminu Aliyu Bisalla Mrs. Saratu AZI, Prof. Mohammed Sanni Abdulkadir and Dr. Yemi Kale

    Others include Comrade Mike Akpotosewe, Prof. Ukandi Damachi, Emeka Okwuosa (an engineer), Prof. Okey Mbonu, Kashim Ali (an engineer) and Fidson Health Care Plc Lagos, Olam Nigeria Ltd, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nig. Ltd, Nigeria Bottling Company Ltd and Chicason Group.

    Activities marking the celebration of the day includes award lecture titled “Productivity for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Employment.”

    It will be delivered by Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Made  in Nigeria goods will be exhibited.

  • Buhari will return soon- Minister

    Buhari will return soon- Minister

    Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications has appealed to Nigerians to be calm and resolute in prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari and his return back to the country.

    The minister made the appeal in a statement by his media aide, Victor Oluwadamilare on Thursday in Abuja.

    Shittu also urged Nigerians not to be too worried about the state of health of the president.

    Shittu said that the president, like any other person was entitled to medical check-ups after strenuous official engagements; hence there should be no reason for anybody to make issues out of his health condition.

    He explained that there was no vacuum in administration as a result of the president’s absence in the country.

    He appealed to Nigerians to go about their daily activities without fear as the nation was calm and everything was going on well.

    “At this critical stage when the government is trying to pull the nation out of economic woods, the least that is expected from Nigerians is distraction.

    “All hands must be on deck while necessary support should be given to the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo while he holds forth for President Buhari.

    “Every patriotic Nigerian should be concerned with the smooth running of government so that the present administration can bring about the change promised the nation.

    “The prayer of everyone is needed for the government to successfully execute various agenda put in place to make life meaningful for the citizenry.

    “And all of us in our respective assignments must ensure that this government succeeds.”

    The minister also urged Nigerians to have firm belief in statements issued by the presidency on the status of the president’s health rather than believing in rumours always posted on the social media.

    He said that such rumour mills could be dangerous to the peaceful co-existence of the country, adding that it was morally wrong even for anybody to wish a fellow human dead.

    “Morally, it is wrong for people to be wishing the president dead in as much as all of us are mortals who can fall sick at any time,’’ he said.

    Shittu said that he was optimistic that President Buhari would  soon return to the country after having a full round of medical check-ups and attention as stipulated by his doctors in the UK. (NAN)

  • CAN slams minister over comments

    CAN slams minister over comments

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed yesterday came under criticism from Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leadership over statements credited to him at a town hall meeting in Ilorin.
    Mohammed was quoted to have accused Christian religious leaders of making alleged provocative statements that could lead to religious war.
    CAN expressed shock and described the minister’s words as disappointing.
    A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Assistant to the CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji, said: “We are disappointed but not surprised with the disparaging, lies and abusive statements credited to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Ilorin during the Town hall meeting, where he was accusing religious leaders of making alleged provocative statements that can lead to religious war.
    “Mohammed in his characteristic manner left out the issues but went after the so-called religious leaders, which we all know, are the Christian leaders because we know that the minister dare not speak against the Moslem leaders, who had said worse things. That would be an open invitation of Fatwah…
    “We want to boldly declare that Nigerian Christians love their country and they not only promote peace and unity, but also always pray for her and the leadership. In the last one year, CAN has declared fasting and prayers for Nigeria and her leadership twice. If we are thirsty for a war, we wouldn’t have gone that far.
    Is Lai Mohammed accusing of us of telling lies:
    •That our members are being killed, maimed and burnt by the Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast?
    •That our members are being killed by the Fulani herdsmen in Plateau, Benue and now Southern Kaduna State?
    •That those responsible for these killings profess Islam as their religion?
    •That those who killed Madam Bridget Agbahime in Kano were Muslims who were arrested but later discharged and acquitted by the court as requested by the state Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice?”
    *That those who killed Madam Eunice Elisha Olawale while doing the morning preaching in Kubwa, Abuja, were Muslim fundamentalists who were arrested but also freed by the Police?
    “Is Lai Mohammed telling us that no Christian was killed by the Fulani herdsmen, who invaded the Southern Kaduna, killed and maimed our members and razed down their communities recently? Is Mohammed saying the Fulani herdsmen who have been killing our members are not armed with sophisticated weapons and is it wrong for us to ask where they get the AK-47 and other weapons they are using?
    “When all those killings were going on in Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna, was there any time Lai Mohammed or anyone in the Federal Government raised up a voice against the atrocities?
    “If those murderous Fulani herdsmen are faceless, how come the Sultan of Sokoto is claiming that they are not Nigerians and in another instance, the Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai said they had been paid for the ‘wrong done to them’? Why is it that whenever these murderers are perpetrating their atrocities, the security agencies look elsewhere until their victims decided to fight back? Is it because the security agencies are Muslim dominated? CAN says no to disparaging remarks in the name of politics. Enough of these lies by Lai Mohammed!”

  • No interest in farming, no varsity admission, says minister

    No interest in farming, no varsity admission, says minister

    The Federal Government has banned students without interest in farming from gaining admission into its Universities of Agriculture.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, made this known at a stakeholders meeting with registrars and pro-Chancellors of the universities in Abuja.

    He said the decision was aimed at repositioning the institutions to involve youths in agriculture, and train them to solve the multi-faceted problems in the sector.

    The Minister, who expressed regrets that non-agriculture-based courses, such as engineering, were being taught in the schools, warning that the only agriculture-related disciplines be taught.

    Ogbeh said the Federal Government’s decision to relocate its three Universities of Agriculture from the Federal Ministry of Education to Agriculture, was to refocus the insitutions as globally-acclaimed citadels to move the sector forward.

    He assured the universities that the government would support them by providing funds and grants to assist in research.

    “The domiciliation of the universities in this ministry is a commendable effort by the Federal Government based on sound reasoning and logic.

    “Your return will effectively help us to reposition the three universities of agriculture as centres of excellence for the rapid development of the agric sector.

    “There is no place where the competence and capacity to drive agriculture resides outside the Universities of Agriculture. We need to achieve a hunger-free Nigeria.

    “Henceforth, students who are not interested in becoming farmers should be made to seek admission elsewhere,’’ Ogbeh said.

    He assured that the government would support students in researching for their self-actualisation.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Mr. Mohammed Munguno, advocated a bill to establish the National Universities Agricultural Commission to regulate operations of the Universities of Agriculture.

    He said the National Assembly would amend their rules to ensure that the universities were domiciled in the ministry.

    “There is need either through an executive bill or a bill to be sponsored by the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture for the establishment of the National Universities of Agricultural Commission.

    “It will be charged with regulating the universities of agriculture to effectively perform their statutory roles in tandem with the laws establishing them,’’ Munguno said.

    The Pro-Chancellor of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia, Prof. Anya O. Anya, lauded the government for the relocation.

    Anya, who raised concern over the disconnect with the science and practice of agriculture in the country, expressed the hope that the assigning of the universities to the ministry would boost their effectiveness.

  • Minister disappointed with NHIS services

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has called for improvement in the quality of services being rendered to patrons of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in FCT hospitals.

    Bello made this call when the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Scheme, Professor Usman Yusuf paid him a visit.

    He said the feedback he has been receiving from enrollees of the scheme has not been encouraging, especially with regards to the quality of drugs being provided to them.

    The Minister wondered why patients would be asked to purchase drugs from third parties outside of the scheme, despite making part payments to hospital managements in addition to their contributions to the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister urged the organization to also tackle the issue of the perception in the public that drugs in the NHIS system are always of low quality types because this is what the feedbacks usually reveal.

    His words: “If the funding or contribution being made by the enrollees is the issue, then it is very important for us to tackle that because it is not appropriate for them to pay for portion of the services in the hospitals and then they go outside to pay for other services. That makes it difficult for the physicians and for you the agencies moving these services to really profile your patients properly, because parties that are under your supervision as well as parties that are not under your supervision are giving services. So, it becomes difficult for you to detect issues of maybe wrong diagnosis or wrong prescription.”

    Reacting to the suggestion that Desk Officers should be assigned to healthcare facilities nationwide to monitor the services being provided to subscribers of the NHIS, the Minister said the FCT Administration would give full support to any idea that could help improve services to the residents.

    His words: “The bottom line is service delivery and the feedback from the general public, not only in FCT but so many other States has not been encouraging. For the Scheme to succeed, we as the operators, the policy makers and more importantly, those in enforcement and supervision is the key and that’s why we whole heartedly support your vision and requirement to assign Desk Officers in all the hospitals nationwide.

    “The FCT will naturally key into it and provide you the necessary support. The advantage you have is that being stationed in the FCT, you could always use the facilities you have in the FCT to try all the new ideas and interventions you want to do and we will support you so that the FCT will be a model that you will always showcase to other states when you go for advocacy or when you invite them to Abuja.”

    Bello directed the Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, General Manager of the FCT Hospital Services Management Board as well as the FCT Health Insurance Scheme to sit down with the NHIS team and discuss issues on how to improve the situation.

    The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Scheme, Professor Usman Yusuf said: “Our enrollees nationwide have not been treated with the respect and dignity they deserved as many of our patients go to hospitals and they complain to us that drugs are usually out of stock”.

    Yusuf added, “That is why I solicit the support of the FCT Minister to allow NHIS to deploy Desk Officers in FCT hospitals to advocate for patients. So that when our patients go to hospitals and are told they encounter problems, they have somebody to go to and complain, which is the NHIS Desk Officer. The Desk Officer will get direct access to me just as I have direct access to the Hon. Minister of FCT”.

     

  • Why rate of deaths from HIV is falling, by minister

    Why rate of deaths from HIV is falling, by minister

    Minister  of Health Prof Isaac Adewole has attributed the reduction in the number of Nigerians dying from HIV-related diseases to increased awareness of their HIV status and use of drugs.

    Adewole spoke at a Joint Stakeholders Summit on Drug Resistance Monitoring, Early Infant Diagnosis and Viral Load in Lagos.

    The event was organised by the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme (NASCP).

    Adewole said: “More people are getting to know their status and accessing HIV treatment and care; as a result, HIV-related deaths are being averted. However, there is still programmatic challenge, such as therapy adherence and retention in care with attending issues, such as HIV drug resistance, be it pre-ART or acquired among the different population groups.”

    On drug resistance, the minister, who was represented by Dr Sunday Aboje, the National Coordinator, National AIDs/STIs Control Programme, said since its inceptions the national HIV response programme, has witnessed significant improvement through commitment of the various stakeholders. “Studies have shown that the surveillance and early identification of these issues which necessitates prompt intervention is required to prevent the untold effect of HIV drug resistance,” he said.

    The minister said there were still challenges in the management of HIV, despite the commitment of the government and donor partners to achieving global targets.

    According to him, only about 8.9 per cent of infants born to HIV positive women were being tested. “This is due to difficulty with tracking babies of HIV positive mothers delivered outside public health facilities. So also are poor Dried Blood Spots (testing of infant blood samples), viral load testing sample logistic systems and weak mentorship and supportive supervision at the health facility levels, among others,” Adewole said.

    The minister said a well-coordinated programme which involved all major implementers would help solve the problems.

    “Surmounting these challenges would require improving the implementation of the programme that will ultimately serve as good practice for other countries,” he noted.

    Consultant Haematologist, Prof. Sulaiman Akanmu said regular monitoring of drug resistance mutations in the form of studies by institutions would help influence policies. He said: “The studies about drug resistance are important and any institution offering anti-retroviral therapy must expect that resistance will naturally evolve. We must anticipate it and put measures in place to ensure that we are able to contain it.”

    Akanmu said the research was important is because before a medic could treat a patient in some countries, he must put him on an anti-retroviral therapy and drug resistance testing to determine the type of drugs to adminster to him.

    “That is not feasible in our clime. We really need to give it a public approach system in the sense that we will have to find out what is the common form of resistance that occurs in our patients. We use the report of the resistance testing study to inform policy on what we should consider as first line drug, second line drug and how we should manage what we call third line regimen. That is the reason why you must be able to do drug resistance testing,” he said.

    Senior Virologist, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, Dr Nicaise Ndembi, said there was the need to design surveys to provide evidence-driven interventions.

    Ndembi, however, said the country lacked the data which showed the problem of resistance. “Basically, the concept is that if you have more exposure to anti-retroviral therapy, the virus will select resistant mutations. Thus, the reason we should worry as a nation is because the more we have people being placed on treatment, the more we have cases of more resistance. We need more research studies to know the magnitude of the problem,” he said.

    Consultant in Public Health, Prof. Phyllis Kanki identified high cost of laboratory test, lack of patience to attend to or give treatment to patients as some challenges facing HIV treatment.

    “All the laboratory tests have a certain cost, no waiving, the other challenge is even though the therapy works pretty well it is still life long treatment. So, you have to exercise huge patience and the healthcare system is not ready to support a patient for many years. Finally, is the patients’ compliance. Patients may have issues with taking the drugs, they may want to stop and that can be a problem for them,” she added.