Patients Now Coming from UK, US for Treatment in Nigeria — FG

Kehinde Fajobi

The Nigerian government has announced significant strides in transforming the country into a global hub for quality healthcare, with patients now travelling from regions including the UK, US, and West Africa for medical services.

This was revealed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Pate, speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, outlined key decisions designed to enhance the nation’s healthcare system.

One of the highlights was the approval of ₦12 billion for the procurement and installation of advanced diagnostic equipment, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, across six major tertiary health institutions.

He remarked: “People are now beginning to come from the subregion, and even from faraway places like the UK and the US, to receive quality healthcare in Nigeria.

“Despite the challenges we face, significant progress is being made, and the transformation promised by President Tinubu is already taking shape.”

The FEC also approved contracts for three MRI machines and two CT scanners to be installed at various hospitals, including University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, and Federal Medical Centers in Abeokuta, Keffi, and Kebbi.

Additionally, Nigeria ratified the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, which aims to harmonize medical standards across the continent.

“What we produce here will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria,’ but over time, it will be recognized as ‘Made in Africa.’ This is a significant step towards self-sufficiency in medical products and pharmaceutical industrialization,” Pate explained.

Pate attributed the ongoing health sector transformation to President Tinubu’s leadership and stressed the importance of infrastructure investment, human resource development, and regulatory frameworks to make the country’s healthcare system reliable and internationally attractive.

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