Us, Saudi Arabia, And Other Foreign Nations Continue To Reap One Billion, Two Hundred Million Dollars Annually From Nigeria’s Medical Tourism Outflow, While Citizens Demand A Revolutionary Overhaul Of The Nation’s Healthcare System

Sunday, July 20, 2025

In a improvement that has angered many, Nigerians person loudened their societal media voices to protestation against nan horrific 1 billion, 2 100 cardinal dollars mislaid yearly to aesculapian tourism, going to countries for illustration nan US aliases Saudi Arabia arsenic a result. As Nigerians grapple pinch deficiency of robust wellness facilities, nationalist officers proceed to activity aesculapian curen overseas thereby becoming a drain connected nan nationalist purse intended to amended nan nation’s wellness attraction strategy astatine home. And while these overseas hotspots are reaping billions from Nigeria’s misrule, nan nationalist is clamouring for reforms, placing accrued unit connected nan authorities to activity towards improving nan authorities of our healthcare strategy for each Nigerian to beryllium capable to entree value healthcare.

Nigerians Outraged arsenic Medical Tourism by Public Officials Deepens Healthcare Crisis astatine Home

For galore years, Nigerians person expressed vexation complete nan believe of authorities officials and able individuals walking overseas for aesculapian treatment, moreover for insignificant ailments that could easy beryllium treated wrong nan country. Despite galore calls to amended Nigeria’s healthcare system, this believe continues to drain nationalist costs and widen inequalities successful entree to value care.

This rumor is particularly prevalent among politicians and apical nationalist officeholders, galore of whom usage payer money to screen nan costs of their aesculapian trips abroad. Instead of investing successful home healthcare accommodation that could service some nan rich | and nan poor, these officials often for illustration to activity curen overseas for moreover communal conditions for illustration malaria, fueling nationalist resentment.

Public Funds, Private Gains

The astir important root of anger among Nigerians is that these aesculapian trips are financed pinch nationalist funds. While millions of mean citizens struggle pinch underfunded hospitals, constricted entree to medication, and overcrowded facilities, nan elites bask world-class curen abroad, utilizing money that comes from nan pockets of mundane Nigerians. Critics reason that this is not only wasteful but profoundly unfair, arsenic it diverts basal resources distant from nan group who request them nan most.

This behaviour perpetuates a strategy wherever location is small inducement to betterment nan country’s healthcare sector. When officials bypass nan home healthcare system, location is nary existent push for improvements. The result is simply a rhythm of underinvestment successful wellness infrastructure, which only makes nan elite much reliant connected overseas aesculapian services, further depleting nationalist resources.

Boosting Foreign Economies astatine Nigeria’s Expense

An moreover greater vexation is that Nigeria’s wealthiness is being transferred to overseas economies. By choosing to activity aesculapian curen abroad, these nationalist officials not only wantonness their ain country’s wellness strategy but besides lend to nan prosperity of different nations’ healthcare sectors. This believe drains Nigeria’s resources while benefiting different countries.

Ironically, galore of nan doctors and aesculapian professionals treating Nigerian leaders overseas are trained successful Nigeria, having near nan state successful hunt of amended opportunities. This encephalon drain continues to undermine nan capacity of Nigeria’s aesculapian sector, arsenic nan state loses immoderate of its brightest talent to overseas shores.

Financial Losses from Medical Tourism

The financial toll of this ongoing inclination is staggering. Experts estimate that Nigeria loses astir \$1.3 cardinal each year owed to aesculapian tourism. This is simply a important magnitude of money, which could different beryllium invested successful improving section wellness services and facilities.

This rumor was highlighted during nan Fourth Annual Public Health Grand Round astatine nan University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) successful Ondo State. The event, organized by nan university’s Faculty of Public Health, brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and academics to talk nan theme, “Health Systems Strengthening: Building Resilience for nan Future.”

Dr. Habibu Yahaya, nan World Health Organization’s (WHO) Coordinator successful Ondo State, provided sobering statistics, noting that nan Nigerian system loses much than \$1.2 cardinal annually to aesculapian tourism. These figures were supported by Isaac Oluyi, nan university’s Public Relations Officer, who emphasized nan request for urgent reforms to forestall further financial losses.

Recommendations for Reform

During nan event, experts and stakeholders from academia, government, and nan wellness assemblage outlined respective cardinal reforms to fortify Nigeria’s healthcare system. The panelists stressed nan request for:

• Task shifting and workforce optimization: Delegating due tasks to mid-level wellness professionals tin easiness nan load connected doctors and amended work delivery, particularly successful underserved areas.
• Improved remuneration and moving conditions: Competitive salary and amended activity environments are basal to clasp aesculapian professionals and forestall further encephalon drain.
• Sustainable wellness financing: The authorities must instrumentality semipermanent financial strategies to guarantee capable backing for healthcare services.
• Emergency preparedness and wellness security: The state must create robust systems to negociate wellness emergencies and outbreaks effectively.
• Community engagement and equity: A attraction connected equitable healthcare entree for all, peculiarly nan underserved, will thief build nationalist spot successful nan system.
• Investment successful investigation and innovation: Encouraging investigation and nan usage of section information tin thief amended Nigeria’s healthcare transportation and outcomes.
• Stronger referral systems: Streamlining nan healthcare referral process ensures that patients person timely and due care.
• Accurate workforce data: Proper search of healthcare professionals will thief amended nan allocation of resources and services.

A Turning Point aliases More of nan Same?

While nan recommendations for betterment are clear, galore Nigerians stay skeptical that meaningful alteration will return place. Without ineligible mandates requiring nationalist officials to usage section healthcare facilities, critics reason that reforms will beryllium ineffective.

Nigerians proceed to telephone for governmental will and accountability, urging nan authorities to prioritize healthcare investments and tackle nan guidelines causes of inequality. The wide usage of overseas aesculapian services by nan nation’s leaders sends a disheartening connection to citizens astir nan reliability and worth of their ain wellness system.

NIGERIA Lead Story Nigerians angered arsenic US, Saudi Arabia others use from 1.2bn nonaccomplishment to aesculapian tourism yearly Nigerians person expressed disappointment complete nan revelation that nan state is losing 1 billion, 2 100 cardinal dollars yearly to aesculapian tourism. aggrieved arsenic US, Saudi Arabia others use from 1.2bn nonaccomplishment med tourism yearly As a result, displeased Nigerians are demanding for an urgent betterment that would move astir nan luck of nan country’s ailing wellness attraction strategy and besides its resources that are being taken to overseas lands.

Ultimately, unless Nigeria’s leaders extremity counting themselves arsenic portion of their chap citizens and extremity investing successful nan aforesaid wellness assemblage they govern, nan dream of value wellness services that are disposable and accessible to each will not beryllium fulfilled.