Dr Abiodun Amusan of the Health Services Department, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has advocated the need to review and reform Nigerian criminal justice system to meet present realities.Amusan made this call at the occasion of a one day sensitisation/inauguration Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), in Benin on Thursday.Speaking on the topic, “Fumigating Corruption In The Health Sector”, Amusan noted that the present justice system have rendered the fight against corruption ineffective.While calling for the enactment of effective laws and policies by government, he urged that corruption should be “criminalized” and should no longer be referred to as “practice” so ICPC should become ICCC.
He also stressed the need for the immediate review of laws and power enshrined in the constitution of anti graft agencies to empower them for better performance.The speaker who noted that corruption in the health sector is infectious, appealed for prompt prosecution of indicted officials.He said corruption hinders patients access to health care, adding that corruption adversely affects expected outcome of all health intervention efforts.Amusan regretted that corruption trend in Nigeria is on the increase, further said corruption is detrimental to the safety of patients.The university don listed corruption in the health sector to include corruption among doctors, nurses, laboratories and corruption among patients.He listed the categories of corruption in these departments to include, doctors using official hours to attend to private patients, manufacturing of fake and sub-standard drugs and medical report falsification for a fee or favour.Others are, collection of illegal fee and medical consumables from patients, preferential searching of case files of favorites and falsification of results for tests not done.Speaking earlier, the Commissioner in board of ICPC in Edo/Delta, Mr Olukile Olusesan bemoaned that most Nigerians who do not engage in corrupt practices directly accommodate it.“Our level of tolerance for corruption is amazing.“The truth about it is that a sizable number of Nigerians have driven us to a remorseful bus stop where the only way out is to change and support the government lofty programmes for a better Nigeria,” he said.The event was concluded with the inauguration of the UBTH unit of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, under the chairmanship of Dr Emmanuel Egwaihide.
Source: The Nation
