The Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria ((ACTSON) has called on the Federal Government to subsidize and grant waivers on import duties of consumables used for cardiac surgery to numerous Nigerians in dire need.
The Association made the call in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Prof. Anietimfon U. Etiuma and National Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Delta as part of its message to mark the 2024 World Heart Day, which was celebrated on Sunday under the theme: ‘Use Heart for Action’ to support individuals care for their hearts and empower them to urge leaders to take cardiovascular health seriously by providing a global platform for action”.
They regretted that Nigeria’s dependency on imported consumables in cardiac surgery has led to increased costs with the current surge in exchange rate worsening the situation.
The association equally appealed to Government to include cardiac and thoracic surgeries in its health insurance schemes, urging the government to sponsor an annual quota of 1000 cardiovascular surgery cases done in Nigeria through the insurance platform adding that this would enhance accessibility to critical surgical interventions.
According to them, “tertiary centers demonstrating capacity in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery should be strengthened, funded, and incentivized,” adding that, “This will facilitate the provision of high-quality surgical care and contribute to the overall advancement of the specialty and keep them in the service of the nation.”
“Encouraging the training of cardiothoracic surgeons across the country is essential to ensure comprehensive coverage of cardiovascular and thoracic surgical services nationwide. This will address the shortage of specialists and improve access to care for patients in underserved regions,” they insisted.
The Association however, reaffirmed its commitment to promoting excellence in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery through continued professional development, training, and research initiatives.
