A two-day retreat was held by medical doctors from Lagos State Secondary Healthcare Facilities and the Health Service Commission (HSC) in a move to discuss the need for healthcare professionals to collaborate across departments, rather than work in isolation.
The retreat, organised by the HSC for approximately 100 mid-level medical doctors from Grade Levels 13 to 15, was Held at The Zone, along the Gbagada-Oworonshoki Expressway.
In her opening address, the Permanent Secretary, HSC, Dr. Cecilia Abimbola Mabogunje, noted the increasing complexity surrounding healthcare, saying: “Doctors are no longer the sole important figures in the hospital, they must now work synergistically with other professionals to advance the system.”
Stressing that integrated care has become a practical necessity, she stated : “If we must progress, survive, and improve patient outcomes, we must strengthen collaboration among healthcare professionals and between primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels.”
Dr. Mabogunje urged a shift towards making multidisciplinary teamwork the standard.
“To break these silos, continuity of care is essential. It requires leadership, humility, and a steadfast commitment to patient outcomes over departmental ownership,” she concluded.
On the first day, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, opened the lectures with her presentation: “One Health System, One Goal: Strengthening Collaboration For Better Service Delivery,” while Dr. Jimi Sodipo from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) spoke on “The Connected Clinic: Working Smarter, Not Harder For Our Patients.”
Other key presentations were from the Medical Director, Lagos State Accident & Emergency Centre, Dr. Deolu Arogundade, on “Hospitals Working Together: Streamlining Referral Pathways For Better Patient Outcomes”; Dr Ahmad Sa’eid of General Hospital Lagos, on “Prescribing Beyond Boundaries: Strengthening Competence Across Departments”; and Dr. Ayodele Renner, of General Hospital Isolo, who spoke on “From Gatekeepers To Gateways: Redefining the Mid-Level Doctors’ Role.”
The Director of Medical Services, HSC, Dr. Olawale Adegbite, encouraged the officers to cultivate a deep passion for their work, reminding them that the future of healthcare rests in their hands.
He urged them to persevere for the sake of their patients, assuring them them of the Commission’s unwavering support in overcoming professional challenges.
Invited dignitaries included Dr. Lajide; some medical directors from state general hospitals and other consultants from other State Hospitals.
They collectively encouraged the officers to embrace leadership and commitment to propel the state’s healthcare system forward.
