Senate ready to set up medical centres in four states, amends Teaching Hospitals Act

The Senate, on Tuesday, approved four bills to set up Federal Medical Centres in four states of the federation.

The medical centres will be set up in Osogbo, Osun State; Onitsha, Anambra State; Gada, Sokoto State; and Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, respectively.

this came following the consideration of four separate reports by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).

Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), Chairman of the Committee, while making presentations, revealed that the centres would be well equipped with facilities for diagnostic treatment and rehabilitation at the tertiary levels.

He added that they would also be helpful as Centres for the training professionals in health line and for advanced health research.

the red chamber, on Tuesday, also approved the bill to amend the Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards, etc.) Act 2004.

Oloriegbe said: “Mr. President and Distinguished Colleagues, every Institution needs to be backed by an enabling law.

“It is against this background that this bill is before the chamber.

“As of today, training facilities in the health sector are inadequate for the current population and projected population growth for Nigeria, currently out at 3 percent per annum.

“Therefore, establishing the Federal University Lokoja Teaching Hospital will address this gap among others”, Oloriegbe explained.

“By this amendment, it creates a legal backing for the Federal University Lokoja Teaching Hospital”, he said.