Nigeria loses two billion dollars annually to medical tourism, Dr Charles Ugwuanyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Abuja, has said.
Ugwuanyi said this on Monday in Abuja, at a news conference to mark the hospital’s 15 years of providing neurological and neurosurgical services in the country.
The chief executive officer, therefore, called on the government to strengthen local specialist healthcare to improve access to advanced treatment and address the situation.
He said the capital flight could be curbed if government incentivises private specialist hospitals, improves power supply and expands health insurance to cover advanced neurological and surgical procedures.
According to him, building trust in local healthcare requires retaining medical experts, continuous training and public enlightenment to encourage Nigerians to seek quality treatment locally rather than travelling abroad for care.
“Sustained investment in modern medical equipment, specialist training and reliable electricity supply is essential to strengthening local capacity and reducing the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad,” he said.
Ugwuanyi said the hospital had attended to 9,457 patients and performed 4,657 operations in the past 15 years, covering brain, spine and peripheral nerve conditions.
He said the operations comprised 2,150 brain surgeries and 2,307 spine surgeries, reflecting the hospital’s focus on specialised care.
He said the hospital had installed advanced diagnostic equipment, six operating suites, intensive care facilities and seven dialysis machines to support patients with complex medical conditions.
Ugwuanyi added that the hospital had adopted solar power to ensure uninterrupted electricity for its specialised equipment and reduce the operational costs associated with power outages.
He called for stronger collaboration among healthcare providers, saying partnerships and referrals to competent facilities would improve patient safety and access to specialised services.
On kidney disease, Ugwuanyi expressed concern over the burden of kidney failure in Nigeria, identifying hypertension, diabetes and the misuse of medications as major contributors to kidney damage.
He said many young Nigerians lived with undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes, while some failed to adhere to prescribed treatment because of the cost of medication.
He warned against the indiscriminate use of painkillers, including ibuprofen, indomethacin and naproxen, noting that their misuse could damage the kidneys.
Ugwuanyi urged Nigerians to undergo regular medical checks, monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and seek medical attention for persistent headaches and other unusual symptoms.
He also advised the public to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, avoid self-medication and adopt healthier lifestyles to prevent illnesses that could lead to serious complications.
The neurosurgeon said the hospital’s services extended beyond neurology and neurosurgery through collaborations with specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, psychiatry, general medicine and other fields.
He explained that such collaborations enabled the hospital to provide comprehensive care, recognising that brain and spine conditions could require the expertise of other medical specialists.
Ugwuanyi said the hospital remained committed to improving access to advanced neurological and neurosurgical services in Nigeria through modern facilities, specialist expertise and collaboration.