From Moshood Olawale Karim
Dr. Osahon Enabulele, the immediate past President of the World Medical Association, on Wednesday December 6th, 2023 spoke about the leadership failure in the health sector of Nigeria at the 2023 Biennial General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Medical and Dental Consultant’s Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Edo State Hospital Management Agency Chapter in Benin City with the theme: “Transformational Health Sector Leadership in a Depressed Economy”
He explained that building a vibrant health sector requires accountability and transparency, which can only be achieved through good leadership and governance.
According to him, when leadership is done right, every other thing falls into place.
Dr. Enabulele also highlighted the appointment of Chief Medical Directors (CMD) in hospitals as a major area of concern. He pointed out that the process of appointing CMDs has been handed over to political agents, which has resulted in the shrouding of the process in mundane and primordial contractions.
He believes that the status quo needs to be addressed urgently, and competence should be prioritized over favouritism in the appointment of leadership positions, especially the position of CMD.
Dr. Enabulele called for a review of the leadership process in the health sector.
“Competence over favouritism in appointment of leadership in the sector especially the position of Chief Medical Directors for hospitals to achieve holistic transformation in the sector”, he said
He stressed that the appointment of CMDs should be based on merit, competence, and experience, rather than political affiliations or personal relationships.
He believes that if the leadership process is revamped and competent leaders are appointed, the health sector in Nigeria can achieve holistic transformation and become a model for other countries to emulate.
In his Keynote address, erudite scholar and former Chief Medical Director, Edo Specialist Hospital, Professor Ileogben Sunday-Adeoye emphasized that transformational leadership is about cultivating positive change in organizations and people.
According to him, the transformational leadership needed in Nigeria health sector at this critical time are leaders who possess high levels of integrity, emotional intelligence with out of the box critical thinking process.
“We cannot afford to do things the way we have been doing them. Most of our leaders see nothing hence we are where we are today. We need leaders who can develop more effective ways of doing things in the health sector. Such as reduction of energy cost, overhead cost while increasing grants from donors.” This he said would address the numerous challenges confronting the nation’s health sector including massive brain drain as doctors leave the country in droves.
Overall, stakeholders’ and participants’ views on the importance of good leadership and governance in the health sector of Nigeria highlight the need for urgent action to address the challenges facing the sector.
The call for accountability, transparency, and merit-based appointments should be taken seriously by policymakers and stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that the sector achieves its full potential and delivers quality health services to all Nigerians.
