National Hospital unveils plans to curb medical tourism
By Abujah Racheal
The National Hospital, Abuja, has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a state-of-the-art medical facility that will reduce medical tourism by Nigerians.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Muhammad Raji, announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Raji explained that the proposed facility would offer specialised services such as cardiac surgery, kidney transplants, and orthopaedic procedures.
He said that these are the major treatments that often drive Nigerians to seek medical care abroad.
“By providing these treatments here, we can keep our patients in the country and offer them the same quality of care,” he stated.
He also revealed plans to create a Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre, a facility currently lacking in Africa.
This, he said, would address the continent’s critical healthcare gaps.
He said that such facility would not only improve healthcare outcomes but also contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The CMD called for increased public and private sector involvement to bring in much-needed resources and innovation in order to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The government has many priorities, and while health is indeed one of them, we cannot solely depend on the government to cover hospital bills and other healthcare costs.
“We must engage philanthropists and private companies to contribute to healthcare services,” he said.
He also raised alarm over the dire consequences of power outages in hospitals, describing the situation as a crisis in itself.
He called for urgent government intervention and the exploration of alternative energy sources to mitigate the impact of power failure on healthcare delivery.
“Hospitals need to operate 24 hours a day with consistent power. When the electricity goes off, critical machines like ventilators, which are vital for patients’ survival, shut down, thereby posing a grave risk,” he said.
He commended the recent increase in the minimum wage of Nigerian workers, acknowledging it as a positive step for motivating healthcare workers.
He, however, stressed that more still needed to be done to ensure sustainable healthcare financing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Idowu Ariwodola and Moses Solanke
She said it was ideal for every ward in Nigeria to have this system linked to primary healthcare, and doctors will not be seen running away from duties because they have every facility.
