Nigerian Medical Association says political office holders should emulate Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo by seeking medical treatment in hospitals in Nigeria rather than going abroad.
NMA National President, Uche Ojinmah, gave this advice in a ‘Get-Well Wish’ message on Monday in Abuja.
On Saturday, Osinbajo had announced that he underwent surgery over a “recurrent pain in his leg” due to an injury he sustained while playing squash.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the surgery took place at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos.
The surgery was said to be successful and the vice-president is expected to be released in “a few days”.
The NMA president, however, commended Osinbajo for exhibiting confidence in Nigerian doctors and the healthcare system.
He added that it’s time to fix the nation’s “fragile health care system” to the benefit of the common man and the economy.
The NMA he said, is certain that the Vice President was impressed with the service he got.
“We wish to thank God for seeing our Vice President through surgery. All Nigerian doctors are praying for his quick and complete recovery,” he said.
Many Nigerians travel abroad to seek medical treatment owing to the lack of adequate medical infrastructure in the country.
As a result of this, there have been calls to curb medical tourism, especially among politicians, and a need to improve access to quality health care in the country.
In 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari, who has embarked on numerous medical trips to the United Kingdom, said the trend is not beneficial to the country.
“Nigerians have suffered so much going abroad for medical treatment. This is not good for us and it must stop because we can’t afford it again,” Buhari had said.