The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria loses approximately $2 billion every year to medical tourism, attributing the loss to inadequate local healthcare infrastructure and poor access to quality medical services.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, made this known during the commissioning of the Avon Medical Centre, a 50-bed specialty hospital in Surulere, Lagos. Represented by the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Wasiu Adeyemo, Pate emphasized the need for Nigeria to build “health sovereignty.”
“This is not just about stopping medical tourism. It is about building health sovereignty, the ability of a country to care for its people, and develop its institutions, talent, and innovation,” Pate said.
He also stated that the government is committed to revitalizing the health sector through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the 2024–2027 Health Sector Strategic Blueprint. The minister called on private healthcare providers to partner with the government in creating a safer and more equitable health system.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also spoke at the event and stressed that solving healthcare challenges cannot be left to the government alone. He urged increased collaboration between public and private sectors.
Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited, Awele Elumelu, lamented the shortage of doctors, beds, and medical equipment in the country, noting that Africa bears over 20 percent of the global disease burden but only has access to 1 percent of healthcare resources.
