Nigeria's Health Sector: Tackling Medical Tourism and Boosting Local Capacity
The Nigerian Federal Government is making concerted efforts to revamp its healthcare sector, with a primary focus on curbing the significant outflow of funds due to medical tourism and enhancing local treatment capabilities. Recent initiatives include substantial investments in specialized facilities, particularly for cancer care.
1. Federal Government's Plan to Reverse Medical Tourism:
Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to medical tourism, as many affluent and even middle-class citizens travel abroad for treatments that could potentially be provided locally if the right infrastructure and expertise were available. This massive capital flight also contributes to the "brain drain" of Nigerian medical professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.
Ministerial Directives: The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has reiterated the federal government's commitment to reversing medical tourism. This involves strengthening the country's health sector to become a hub for medical excellence in West Africa.
Investment in Infrastructure and Technology: The strategy includes improving healthcare infrastructure, acquiring cutting-edge technology, and upgrading existing facilities to meet international standards. The goal is to ensure that Nigerians can access world-class treatment within the country.
Addressing Brain Drain: Beyond infrastructure, there's an emphasis on creating an environment that encourages Nigerian medical professionals practicing overseas to return home. This involves better remuneration, improved working conditions, and opportunities for advanced training and research.
Public-Private Partnerships: The government is actively seeking partnerships with the private sector to achieve these goals. For instance, the Bank of Industry (BOI) has committed to revamping Nigeria's healthcare sector through targeted investments aimed at curbing medical tourism. Projects like the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, developed by Afreximbank in partnership with King's College Hospital, London, are examples of this drive to offer world-class treatment for non-communicable diseases locally.
Impact of Economic Challenges: Interestingly, recent reports also suggest that Nigeria's economic challenges and foreign exchange scarcity are, paradoxically, already making it harder for many Nigerians to afford medical tourism, forcing them to look for local alternatives. While this is not a policy objective, it underscores the urgent need to improve local healthcare quality.
Cost Implications: The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) estimates that medical tourism costs the country a staggering $7 billion (over N10.7 trillion or 19.6 percent of the 2025 federal budget) annually. Ending this outflow could significantly transform domestic medical care.
2. Unveiling of Cancer Facilities:
A major part of the government's strategy to boost local capacity and combat medical tourism is the significant investment in specialized healthcare, particularly cancer care, given the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
Enugu Cancer Facility: On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Federal Government officially commissioned a state-of-the-art Clinical Oncology Cancer Centre at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu. This facility is described as having been upgraded to a global standard, equipped with advanced technology including a Halcyon Linear Accelerator, Treatment Planning System, and Dosimetry Equipment.
Nationwide Oncology Initiative: This Enugu facility is part of a broader national oncology initiative. President Bola Tinubu had earlier commissioned two other advanced oncology centers simultaneously in Katsina (Federal Teaching Hospital) and Benin (University of Benin Teaching Hospital) on May 29, 2025. These three centers represent the first phase of a broader plan to establish ten new cancer centers across the country.
Largest Investment in Cancer Care: The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has described this initiative as the "largest investment in cancer care in the history of Nigeria and West Africa."
Training and Capacity Building: The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and its health services subsidiary, Medserve, will operate these facilities and are set to train up to 500 clinicians over the next three years. These centers are expected to serve 2,000 oncology and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually.
Catastrophic Health Fund: Recognizing the financial burden of cancer treatment, the government has earmarked N20 billion in the 2025 federal budget to establish a new Catastrophic Health Fund under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to help cover illnesses like cancer, kidney disease, and spinal conditions for vulnerable Nigerians.
Addressing High Cancer Burden: These investments are crucial as Nigeria accounts for an estimated 127,000 new cancer cases and 80,000 deaths annually, highlighting a significant public health challenge.
These strategic investments and policy initiatives signal the Nigerian government's renewed commitment to transforming its healthcare landscape, improving accessibility and affordability of quality medical care for its citizens, and ultimately reducing reliance on foreign medical services.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
