Medical Tourism: Nigerians eye $300m Ghanaian health facility

Ghana looks set to Ghana looks set to become the next medical tourism destination for Nigerians as attention shifts to emergence of the proposed Eco-Medical Hospital, a state-of-the-art international hospital complex in Accra.

This development, coupled with the complete shutdown of the multi-billion naira world class Ibom Specialist Hospital, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is creating more options for Nigerians to access world class health care and services in Africa.Findings by Health & Living Features reveal that even as the new hospital is about getting off the ground, prominent Nigerians have started making enquiries about the proposed healthcare facility, which when constructed, is reputed to become the largest private hospital in West Africa.

Millions troop abroad annually and at least 50 per cent of these patients travelling abroad are headed for destinations in Europe, Asia, and America. Currently, Asia is the No. 1 destination for millions of Nigerians who expend an average of $1 billion on medical tourism annually. In India, high brow health facilities such as Primus International Super Speciality Hospital, Fortis Hospital and Apollo Hospital, are favorites.Experts attribute this Capital flight to inadequate investment in the local health industry.

Practically all those travelling abroad do so to obtain value for money in healthcare. Common ailments for which Nigerians travel abroad include those related to cardiology (heart disorders), orthopaedic (bone and skeletal), renal (kidney issues) and cancer. The penchant of Nigerian medical practitioners and health professionals recommending overseas medical treatment for all kinds of ailments, particularly those that can be adequately treated in the country, is not helping matters.While Nigeria has enormous potential in the medical field, observers say the facilities needed to get value, quality and affordability.