By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The Nigerian Medical Association,NMA has begun collaboration with private medical practitioners to reverse medical tourism that has bedevilled the country.
The NMA President,Prof. Bala Audu, who said this during his familiarization visit to the Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Dr. Christopher Otabor, in Abuja, Tuesday, tasked governments on support for private health providers in the country.
Audu, who noted that private health providers have the potentials to reverse medical tourism in the country, said the collaboration could woo foreign investment as well as patients to the country.
He commended the efforts of Alliance Hospital in tackling medical tourism in the country, assuring that his organization would work with the hospital, especially in terms of reversal of medical tourism.
“We have very strong institutions like yours in the private sector. We can work together, especially in terms of reversal of medical tourism, “he said.
Audu, who underscored the importance of promoting Nigeria’s medical strength,said:“We need to showcase the standard medical practices in this country so that when people are looking for these services, they know they exist.”
He tasked the media to highlight the country’s medical achievements, saying:“The press needs to play a significant role in letting Nigerians know what we actually have in this country. People from developed countries come to pick doctors from Nigeria due to the high quality of medical education and services.”
The NMA President solicited greater awareness and promotion of Nigeria’s medical facilities and expertise to curb the trend of Nigerians seeking healthcare abroad.
Audu, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, lauded the remarkable strides made by Alliance Hospital in advancing healthcare quality in Nigeria.
“We are here to understand and support private healthcare providers who are setting benchmarks in specialized, high-quality care,” Professor Audu stated.”Our goal is to ensure every Nigerian has access to patient-centered healthcare that respects and addresses their needs.”
On his part,the Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Dr. Christopher Otabor, thanked the leadership of the NMA, led by Prof. Audu for considering him worthy for such visit.
Dr Otabor, who is also the Chief Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon of Alliance Hospital, used the occasion to reel out his hospital’s achievements in reducing medical tourism.
He said:“It is an honor to have the national president visit.
“Your leadership brings a new era of excellence. Gone are the days of politically motivated presidents; now, we have leaders of true intellect and character.
“Alliance Hospital, founded in 2011, aims to curb the exodus of Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad.
“We established this hospital to provide solutions rather than just discussing problems,” Dr. Otabor explained.
“We conduct approximately 60 joint replacement surgeries and numerous spine surgeries annually. Recently, we celebrated our first IVF triplets, and we’ve had patients come from abroad, including a woman from Canada who successfully underwent IVF here.
“We are a top center for kidney transplants, and our capabilities in joint and spine surgeries are well-recognized.”
Regretting that in spite of the hospital’s efforts in advancing medical practice in the country, it had been targeted for destruction by some persons, the medical expert expressed optimism that the setback would soon be over.
He said:“We have been targeted by miscreants, but we have confidence in the legal system to deliver justice.
Otabor explained that Alliance Hospital was dedicated to reducing medical tourism by providing world-class healthcare locally. (Vanguard)