Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kazeem Biriowo
Published on 2024-03-23 15:05:01
The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) recently visited Alliance Hospital in Abuja and commended the management and staff for their dedication to combatting medical tourism. Dr. Kingsley Iseko, the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the Guild of Medical Directors, led the solidarity visit and expressed unwavering confidence in the hospital’s life-saving services. He praised Alliance Hospital for providing a viable alternative for Nigerians who previously sought medical services abroad.
Dr. Iseko emphasized the Guild’s commitment to advocating for quality healthcare delivery and safeguarding healthcare standards in the FCT and Nigeria. He highlighted the importance of private hospitals like Alliance Hospital in ensuring that patients receive optimal care and mentioned the hospital’s engagement in various humanitarian services. Dr. Iseko also stressed the importance of regulations in setting standards and building public confidence in healthcare services provided by private hospitals.
According to Dr. Iseko, over 70% of healthcare services are provided by the private sector, and setting and judiciously applying standards can help improve public confidence in these services. He lauded Alliance Hospital and other members of the Guild of Medical Directors for spearheading the reversal of medical tourism in Abuja.
Dr. Christopher Otabor, the Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, called on the federal government to increase investment in hospital equipment, boost morale among healthcare workers, and address security concerns to combat brain drain and medical tourism. He received an integrity ambassadorial award from the Nigerian patriotic youths against corruption and transparency initiative. Dr. Otabor estimated the annual economic losses due to medical tourism to be over a billion dollars and expressed concerns about the significant disparity in the doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria.
Dr. Otabor highlighted the challenges posed by brain drain and medical tourism in the healthcare sector and stressed the need to build local capacity to address healthcare challenges, particularly in critical areas like kidney transplants. He noted that the current doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria is significantly higher than the WHO’s recommended ratio, with one doctor to 10,000 patients. Dr. Otabor emphasized the importance of retaining skilled healthcare professionals in the country to provide top-notch health services.
The leader of the Nigerian patriotic youths against corruption and transparency initiative, Ochekwu Ocheche, commended Dr. Otabor for his commitment to providing healthcare services in Nigeria instead of opting for more lucrative opportunities abroad. The visit from the Guild of Medical Directors and the recognition of Dr. Otabor’s efforts highlight the importance of local capacity building and the fight against brain drain and medical tourism in the Nigerian healthcare sector.
Read the original article on Nigerian Tribune
