Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of State for Health, says medical tourism can be reduced, “but you cannot stop people from getting further medicare.”
He made this known during a News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja on Monday.
Mamora said even citizens of advanced countries travel to other countries for treatment.
He added: “Our duty as a country is to put in place proper medicare facilities to take care of the health of citizens.
“Some people, however, travel abroad for treatment to get equipment or facilities that are not in the country.
“In the 50s and 60s, Nigeria benefitted from medical tourism even as the royal family from Saudi Arabia used to come to University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan for treatment.
“We need to ensure that we have facilities on ground that will make our citizens stay back home for treatment.
“This include physical infrastructure, personnel and equipment.”
According to him, the country needs to make the system efficient and must provide support services like water and electricity for people to be comfortable in hospitals.
“Once these things are provided, medical tourism will be reduced and it will make our hospitals attractive,” Mamora said.
Medical tourism can be reduced but can’t be stopped — Minister
By NAN
