Expert seeks integration of clinical engineering directorate in healthcare system

Dr Onyema Edward, an Electronic and Telecommunications Engineer, has called on the executive arm of government and the National Assembly to make legislation for the establishment of a Clinical Engineering Directorate, CED, across Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He said the legislation could strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign medical services.

His call is contained in his paper titled “Policy Framework for Integrating Clinical Engineering Directorates, CED, in the Nigerian Healthcare System: Lessons from the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.”

The paper was part of a presentation he made at the Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, NIGERCON International Conference held at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos.

He said the CED, if adopted by government, would be driven by interdisciplinary engineers, especially in the areas of Biomedical, Software, Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical, and Computer Engineering, among others, working together to ensure safe, efficient, and technology-driven healthcare delivery.

He further said the initiative would address longstanding challenges associated with the management, maintenance and utilisation of sophisticated medical equipment in Nigerian hospitals.

Dr Edward said, "Establishing Clinical Engineering Directorates would promote preventive maintenance, improve patient safety, strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals and ensure more effective utilisation of modern medical equipment.

"The proposed framework also seeks to integrate fragmented clinical engineering professionals into a coordinated governance structure within the Federal Ministry of Health, federal tertiary healthcare institutions and state healthcare systems."

He also disclosed his plan to engage members of the incoming 11th National Assembly to facilitate the drafting and passage of the legislation that would provide a legal framework for the establishment and operation of the proposed directorates.

Beyond the healthcare sector, the engineer also highlighted another policy initiative, the proposed Nigeria Intelligence System Agency, NISA, which he said was conceived to accelerate learning, research and development, as well as the advancement and implementation of emerging technologies.

He expressed optimism that both initiatives, if properly implemented, could contribute to building a technology-driven, safer and more self-reliant Nigeria.

Expert seeks integration of clinical engineering directorate in healthcare system