FG To Ban Workers From Travelling Overseas On Health Grounds

Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu

Minister of Health, Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi has said workers employed by the government would no longer be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment, except on critical cases.

Speaking in Benin City where he attended the burial ceremony of the late father of President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, Onyebuchi urged Nigerians and workers in various establishment both in the private and public sectors to take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to access the medicare.

According to him, registering with any NHIS in one’s locality is the best way and it has been made compulsory.

The minister told journalists at a media parley in Benin city that it was a presidential directive to obviate capital flight so as to improve the health sector delivery system in the country.

According to him, the directive will be implemented across all federal government establishments, adding, however, that individuals cannot be denied their rights if they have the resources to foot their bills abroad.

While responding to some of the health challenges in the Nigeria, the minister said a lot was being done to transform the sector and create healthcare access to the populace, which he noted, the present administration was doing to improve the fortunes of Nigerians from its downward trend.