The Federal Authorities, on Tuesday, mentioned Nigerians spend between USD1.2 and USD1.6 billion (N664bn at 415/$) on medical tourism yearly.
Minister of Data and Tradition, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, mentioned this throughout a guided tour of Duchess Worldwide Hospital in Lagos.
He mentioned the Federal Authorities was decided to cease the pattern, which he described as a drain on the nation’s international reserves.
Mohammed mentioned there have been a number of well being interventions and provision of the enabling surroundings for private-sector pushed enterprises like Dutchess to thrive.
He disclosed that the Federal Authorities by means of the Nigerian Sovereign Funding Authority (NSIA) has invested a complete of $22.5 million in two diagnostic facilities in Kano and Umuahia ($5.5 million every) and the NSIA-LUTH Most cancers Centre in Lagos ($11.5 million).
Mohammed described Duchess as “a purpose-built, state-of-the-art, 100-bed hospital, is geared toward delivering the best commonplace of healthcare, utilizing probably the most superior expertise and coverings to supply Nigerians with the very best medical experience out there wherever on the earth.”
“Sure, the Federal Authorities, by means of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria and the Financial institution of Trade, supplied monetary assist for Duchess Worldwide Hospital. This isn’t new.
“Recall that within the wake of Covid-19, the CBN arrange the N100 billion Healthcare Sector Intervention Fund, now expanded to N200 billion, to supply credit score assist for the healthcare sector by means of long-term, low-cost financing,” he mentioned.
He reiterated that the essence of those monetary interventions and tasks within the vital healthcare sector is to fast-track the evolvement of world class healthcare amenities like this Duchess Worldwide Hospital.
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The Minister mentioned, “With that, we are able to preserve our international reserves, earn international alternate for the nation, create jobs, reverse mind drain, grow to be a vacation spot for medical vacationers and in addition guarantee inexpensive and commonplace healthcare for Nigerians.
“Based on out there information, Nigerians spend between USD1.2 and USD1.6 billion on medical tourism. That is an enormous drain on our international reserves.
“Additionally, to be able to retain docs, our healthcare amenities should be outfitted to world commonplace stage and docs and different healthcare employees should be adequately remunerated. After all, amenities like Duchess Worldwide are veritable instruments for job creation, in further to attracting medical vacationers from the world over.”
Locations visited throughout the amenities included Cardiology middle, together with physiotherapy room; Eye care; Studying and improvement middle; ENT; Surgical and Gynecology Ward; Absolutely-automated lab; Intensive and Important care unit; Endoscopy unit; Girls and Youngsters ward; Dialysis Centre, Dental Unit, Pharmacy, amongst others.
