The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has raised the stake in its commitment to diversify into the health sector in line with the Corporation’s stand to stay afloat as a commercially viable entity.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating the Boards of the NNPC Medical Services Ltd. (NMSL) and the NNPC Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Ltd.

“My vision is to make NNPC a renowned Health Medical Services (HMS) provider globally. In the near future, we are committed to making our medical facilities a reference point for the provision of world-class health services in Africa and beyond,” Baru stated.

Following the recent restructuring of the NNPC, its Group Medical Services was realigned as a new venture non-core business entity, charged with the responsibility of creating new medical businesses that will generate revenue for the Corporation.

As at today, the NNPC Medical Services Division boasts of 52 clinics and hospitals spread across the Corporation’s various locations across the country, providing services to staff and their family members.

The aim now, according to the GMD, is to open up these medical facilities to other oil and gas organisations as well as other interested third party consumers for profitability.

Baru charged the Board members to provide the necessary direction to medical service delivery in NNPC in line with global best standards.

“It is going to be a new terrain for all of you. You must take advantage of the latest and most efficient technological advancement in healthcare service delivery,” Baru told the Board members.

While urging the two boards to “carve a niche” for the NNPC Medical Services as a specialised medical service provider such as Burns and Trauma Centre, he also called on them to collaborate with the best partners as it is very critical towards service delivery.

He further charged the two boards to work with synergy, without at the same time compromising their respective independence, stressing that “your job comes with a lot of responsibility and you must prove yourselves on this critical assignment.”

Earlier in his remarks, the COO Ventures who is also the Board Chairman of the two organisations, Dr. Babatunde Victor Adeniran, said that with this development, the NNPC was taking advantage of the new opportunities in the nation’s health sector.

“With this development, the existing NNPC Hospitals will compete for clients with other top class hospitals in locations where they operate hence quality of service would be improved,” Adeniran stated.

Aside Adeniran who chairs the Boards of the NNPC Medical Services Ltd (NMSL) and the NNPC Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Ltd, there are also seven members for each of the boards, which are expected to commence work immediately.

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