By Ndidi Chukwu
For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Ministry of Health has said it ‘carefully’ made a selection of key institutions that have the mandate for the implementation of the National Health Act to ensure fair representation all health institutions and structures.
The responsibilities for the Technical Review Committee (TRC) as contained in a document made available to Health Reporters are:
- To advice the Supervising Minister/Honourable Minister of State for Health in matters relating to operationalization of the NHAct 2014.
- To consider reports and recommendations of the TWG and advise the Honourable Minister of Health on positions, protocols and resolutions before presentation to the National Steering Committee of the NHAct
Health Reporters also gathered that the FmoH developed a three tiered structure for the operationalisation of the ACT, which are;
- The Steering committee to be chaired by the supervising minister to provide overarching guidance and take final decisions on all issues relating to the implementation of the NHAct.
- The Technical Review Committee which has the role to advise the Minister generally on the matters relating to the implementation of the NHAct and on key issues arising from the work of the Technical Working Group
- The Technical Working Group, chaired by the Permanent Secretary is to discuss details and propose actionable inputs to operationalise the NHAct.
The TRC is also expected to make impactful deliberations to capture the issues of
- Governance
- Health financing, equity and investments
- Standards, Research and Knowledge Management
- Advocacy
Below are the names of the Technical Review Committee members
- Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health Mr Linus Awute Chairman
- Department of Family Health Wapada Balami
- Department of Hospital Services Mrs P. Osinubi
- Department of Human Resources M.L.Halilu
- Department of Public Health B. Okoeguale
- Department of Planning Research & Statistics Dr N.R.C Azodoh
- Department of Food and Drugs Ogbechie. V
- Department of Finance and Accounts A Giza
- Department of Procurement Ruqayat O.
- Department of Reform Coordination Gwapna T.T
- Department of General Services Sani I. Lawal
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control A. Nasidi
- CCE Akin Oyemakinde
- PPP/Diaspora Unit Omobolanle R. Olowu
- Legal Adviser (PSO) Ngozi Jipreze
- Director Audit Pam G. James
- Director Press Mrs Ayotunde Adesugba
- Servicom (PSO) Agbo-Adokpe V.A
- Anti-Corruption M. Udoekanem
- O. Smith Director Nat Blood Transfusion Services
- Paul Orhii Director General NAFDAC Member
- Ado Mohammad Executive Director NPHCDA
- Femi Thomas Executive Secretary NHIS
- Prof Gamaniel Director General NIPRD
- Innocent Ujah Director general NIMR
While the TRC works as an internal committee comprising of Directors in the Federal Ministry of Health and its Agencies, the TWG will work with sub-groups, outside the FmoH such as Civil Societies and development partners who are the health actors “the TWG will discuss details and propose actionable inputs on areas of governance, advocacy, standards, research and knowledge management, as well as Health financing, equity and investments” Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, Director Planning Research and Statistics of the Federal Ministry of Health, told Health Reporters.
Dr Khaliru Alhassan at the inauguration of the committee said despite the fact that a number of institutions, structures and mechanisms have been provided for in the NHAct, there are still mis-understandings of the actual interpretation of the provisions in the Act. Khaliru noted that some of the provisions require the development of detailed guidelines to be implemented without ambiguity and in a consistent manner as he added that most of the provisions require resources and emphasised on the importance of the Ministry to ascertain the resource requirements to establish the structures and mechanisms provided for in the NHAct to enable the development of a comprehensive resource mobilisation strategy.
In his response, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. Linus Awute who is the TRC Chairman on behalf of other members pledged commitment to take the assignment seriously based on the strategic position of the act in nation building. He also urged the Ministry’s Directors to assist the committee in ensuring successful completion of the task.
The TRC is also expected to meet and agree on a suitable plan for its meeting, first of such plan is an immediate developed concept presentation for its work, which is expected to be presented at the recently called Emergency National Council on Health scheduled to hold on 17th of March 2015.
