We've released N420m to each state for Primary Health Care - Minister

He disclosed this in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, shortly after he paid a working visit to the University College Hospital (UCH).

Adewole said that the grant, which was released on July 14, 2016, was seed money from the Federal Government to the states, to assist them to revitalise primary health care centres in their areas.

He expressed the hope that with a revitalised primary health care sector '' there will be a reversal of influx of patients into our tertiary health facilities in the states.''

He added that a monitoring mechanism had been put in place to ensure that the money was judiciously spent and that the revitalisation efforts were extended to the rural areas as well.

“Each state should ensure that a local government has at least one comprehensive Primary Health Care centre.

“This will decongest teaching hospitals and make specialist hospitals to function very well,” he said.

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On his working visit, the minister explained that the UCH was capable of handling any medical case with the available manpower and facilities.

He said the hospital was in the best position to reverse medical tourism based on the available manpower and facilities he saw in the hospital.