According to him, the private sector plays a significant and larger role in rendering of healthcare services in the country and requires all the financial support.

“Government has been proactive in meeting the needs of other sectors like Agriculture and Aviation with the intervention fund.

“Such gesture has not been extended to the health sector.

“Without health, no one can go to the farm or fly in an airplane.

“It goes to show that the health sector is more important, if all industries and organisations must flourish.

“ We, therefore, appeal to government at all levels, especially the Federal Government, to ensure health intervention fund for the private health sector to promote healthcare delivery,’’ he said.

Kuku said that the sustainability and viability of a country’s economic and social growth depend on a vibrant healthcare system.

Mrs Clare Omatseye, the President of HFN, said there was the need for a robust collaboration between government and the private sector.

Omatseye said that through such collaboration, healthcare in Nigeria would be strengthened in all ramifications.

“It is obvious that the public sector alone cannot meet the demands of healthcare delivery in the country, therefore, the need to engage the private sector.

“There is a need for the Federal Government to invest heavily in the health sector, considering the country’s high burden of diseases, “she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the HFN is the coalition of Nigerian private health sector stakeholders with the desire of improving the Nigerian health sector through advocacy.

Source: Daily Independent Online.