The Role of Legislators in Maintaining Healthcare Standards in Nigeria

Abstract

Access to quality healthcare is one of the fundamental human rights of every citizen irrespective of socio-economic status. In Nigeria access to quality and affordable health care by citizens, especially in rural areas, is a major challenge because many healthcare centres in rural areas do not meet the required health facilities standard for basic preventive and curative care. The Nigerian constitution specifies the need to make quality healthcare affordable for citizens, maintaining healthcare standards seems to be far from being achieved. The objective of the book chapter is to discuss the role of legislators in maintaining health care standards in Nigeria. A major role that the legislators can play to improve on standards is the establishment of agency by law that will monitor and enforce standard in States and Local Governments health facilities. The legislators can also amend the law establishing NPHCDA to provide for the establishment of Management Agencies to adequately ensure the maintenance of minimum standard structure for effectiveness of health care delivery.