In the first quarter of 2023, Nigeria spent a significant sum of $1.04 million on healthcare services provided abroad, as revealed in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s quarterly statistical bulletin.

This amount represented a notable increase of 40.54% compared to the $0.74 million spent in the same period in 2022.

A detailed breakdown indicated that medical tourism consumed $0.34 million in January 2023, $0.32 million in February 2023, and rose to $0.38 million in March 2023.

The inclination of Nigerian leaders and politicians to seek medical treatment abroad is attributed to a range of issues plaguing the nation’s health sector.

Challenges such as a weak primary healthcare system, inadequate facilities, brain drain, and disease outbreaks have eroded confidence in domestic medical services.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s recurrent trips abroad for medical treatment have further highlighted this reliance on foreign healthcare.

The National Vice Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, cited corruption, mismanagement, and poor infrastructure as major factors contributing to the dismal state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the surge in medical tourism.

To reverse this trend, some propose implementing measures like healthcare schemes, private sector involvement, improved business conditions for the health system, tax waivers, foreign training for medical personnel, and legislation compelling the political class to utilize local healthcare facilities from primary to tertiary care.