By Chioma Obinna News of notable Nigerians embarking on medical tourism abroad has remained a topic for discussion for years. The fact that even high profile Nigerians and government officials top the list of those seeking medical care overseas remains a major issue.

Statistics available show that Nigerians spend over $1,000,000,000 on medical tourism annually.

The widely acknowledged Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo, established by the former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, towards enabling the average Nigerian patient have access to advanced and effective healthcare services, appears not to have changed the status quo.

Fifteen months after Ibom Specialist Hospital, fashioned after the famous RAK Hospital, Dubai, became operational, medical tourism still continues unabated in the country. Records show that at least 50 per cent of Nigerian patients travelling abroad are headed for destinations in Europe, Asia, America and other parts of the world.

Medical tourism is eating deep into pockets of Nigerians and the economy and there are concerns in several circles.

Medical tourism – the process of “leaving home” for treatments and care abroad or elsewhere- is an emerging phenomenon in the health care industry. Broadly speaking, medical tourism is the act of traveling to obtain medical care and in the process, patients are exposed to greater financial burdens.

Perhaps this was the motivation for the initiator of the Ibom Hospital in effort to replicate the RAK, Hospital, Dubai, in Akwa Ibom State.

Experts from the RAK Hospital that assisted in setting up the Ibom Hospital as one facility to address the many reasons Nigerians go abroad for treatment, were on track with the State government.

Today, the Ibom Hospital is world class and higher in status than a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. It was established to shorten travel time for patients going abroad. People often die while being airlifted abroad for treatment. It was also to generate revenue from health tourism.

Well equipped

From the entrance to the reception, a first timer to the hospital might mistake it for a five star hotel. Equipped with modern facilities ranging from 640- slice CT scan (Toshiba) which is the first in West Africa.

Others include Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI), x-ray with digital radiology, and computerised radiology and fluoroscopy; mammogram machine, and other advanced diagnostic equipment.

The laboratory is fully equipped with cutting edge equipment and results obtained from the facility are certified 100 percent accurate due to digitalised x-rays.

There is a multipurpose x-ray machine while the MRI is reputed to emit no radiation effect with reduced time for patient to a maximum of 15 minutes, and it can capture a patient irrespective of the patient’s position.

With a BC5380 Mindray machine, different cells in the blood are screened to check haemoglobin level and other parameters can be done within five minutes and the machine can run up to 50 samples at the same time. It also has a Cobat C311 machine mainly used for biological test, calcium, level tests and can load up to 100 samples at a time within 10 minutes.

In terms of personnel, Ibom Specialist Hospital parades experienced doctors, nurses and technicians committed to delivering the highest quality of care.

Health watchers are of the view that with equipment and facilities in the hospital, have potential to make Nigeria a medical tourism destination of choice.

However, these objectives are yet to be achieved as the hospital is currently underutilised. The beauty, allure and luxury of the environment, wards, private rooms, operating theatres, etc., are irresistible.

Read more: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/ibom-specialist-hospital-antidote-medical-tourism/

cc Lasticlala Front page please.

This Article too long summary of important points.

• 50 per cent of Nigerian patients travelling abroad are headed for destinations in Europe, Asia, America and other parts of the world.

• Nigerians spend over $1,000,000,000 on medical tourism annually.

• the Ibom Hospital is world class and higher in status than a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. It was established to shorten travel time

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI), x-ray with digital radiology, and computerised radiology and fluoroscopy; mammogram machine, and other advanced diagnostic equipment.

•Equipped with modern facilities ranging from 640- slice CT scan (Toshiba) which is the first in West Africa.

• Adewole who reportedly pledged that Federal Government would partner with the Akwa Ibom Government on the operations of the Specialist Hospital to stop Nigerians from seeking medical treatment abroad.

•hospital is currently underutilised

•the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, during his maiden visit to the hospital declared the Federal government had no business sponsoring treatments for Nigerians abroad as from 2017.

•Akpokighe said the hospital is equipped to render complete cardiology services, internal medicine, Neurosurgery and spine centre, laboratory services, plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, radiology and imaging services, surgery, medical oncology, otolaryngologists (ENT) Rheumatology, urology, gynaecology, nephrology amongst others.

•Currently Ibom Specialist Hospital runs on generator 24 hours daily, all week because it is yet to be connected to the national grid.

•An estimated N10 million is expended on generator maintenance and diesel.

•you pay only N5, 000 to see a doctor.

•We have achieved almost 100 percent success in most of the departments particularly in surgeries we have done.

•In neurosurgery unit we have done brain surgery in a six days old child. We have also removed tumour from a young child skull and that was done successfully. The baby is alive and fine.

Blue3k:
This Article too long summary of important points.

• 50 per cent of Nigerian patients travelling abroad are headed for destinations in Europe, Asia, America and other parts of the world.

• Nigerians spend over $1,000,000,000 on medical tourism annually.

• the Ibom Hospital is world class and higher in status than a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. It was established to shorten travel time

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI), x-ray with digital radiology, and computerised radiology and fluoroscopy; mammogram machine, and other advanced diagnostic equipment.

•Equipped with modern facilities ranging from 640- slice CT scan (Toshiba) which is the first in West Africa.

• Adewole who reportedly pledged that Federal Government would partner with the Akwa Ibom Government on the operations of the Specialist Hospital to stop Nigerians from seeking medical treatment abroad.

•hospital is currently underutilised

•the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, during his maiden visit to the hospital declared the Federal government had no business sponsoring treatments for Nigerians abroad as from 2017.

•Akpokighe said the hospital is equipped to render complete cardiology services, internal medicine, Neurosurgery and spine centre, laboratory services, plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, radiology and imaging services, surgery, medical oncology, otolaryngologists (ENT) Rheumatology, urology, gynaecology, nephrology amongst others.

•Currently Ibom Specialist Hospital runs on generator 24 hours daily, all week because it is yet to be connected to the national grid.

•An estimated N10 million is expended on generator maintenance and diesel.

•you pay only N5, 000 to see a doctor.

•We have achieved almost 100 percent success in most of the departments particularly in surgeries we have done.

•In neurosurgery unit we have done brain surgery in a six days old child. We have also removed tumour from a young child skull and that was done successfully. The baby is alive and fine.

Okay but still Akpabio still travel for medical treatment over an accident with no bruise..

ISTANDWITHBUHAR:


Okay but still Akpabio still travel for medical treatment over an accident with no bruise..

When was this? Either way doesn't change fact the hospital has been doing pretty excellent work in surgeries and providing good service.

Just a little qwip didn't Buhari campaign on stopping medical tourism. I guess Buhari and Akpabio are two peas in a pod.

Blue3k:


When was this? Either way doesn't change fact the hospital has been doing pretty excellent work in surgeries and providing good service.

Just a little qwip didn't Buhari campaign on stopping medical tourism. I guess Buhari and Akpabio are two peas in a pod.

Well i haven't hear about it lately though..