Africa forfeits about $10 billion annually to outbound medical tourism, with Nigeria alone losing $2 billion, according to the Nigerian Medical Association. At its Healthcare and Medical Expo in Abuja, the NMA called for greater investment in local healthcare to reverse this trend and attract international patients. Speakers highlighted available high-end services in Nigeria and the need to bolster the private sector.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) hosted its Healthcare and Medical Expo on Wednesday in Abuja, under the theme “Reversing Medical Tourism: Africans Investing in Africa”. National President Prof. Bala Mohammed Audu revealed that Africa loses $10 billion every year to medical tourism abroad, with Nigeria contributing $2 billion annually. He noted that developed countries recruit Nigerian-trained doctors, while political elites seek treatment overseas despite high-quality services available locally.
Audu emphasized the lack of awareness among Nigerians about advanced care in their own country. “The knowledge, quality, and expertise that Nigeria-trained doctors carry to other countries were obtained in Nigeria, and they perform excellently, but many Nigerians do not even know that these services are available here in Nigeria,” he said. The NMA aims to reduce outbound travel and draw patients from abroad, potentially making Nigeria a competitive destination where foreign doctors refer cases back.
To achieve global standards, Audu called for increased health financing and an enabling environment, particularly in the private sector, where most outbound patients seek care. He highlighted projected $5 billion in foreign direct investment over the next five years, urging high-end investors to target health industrialization.
In his keynote, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, Chairman of the Conference and Chancellor of Ekiti State University, affirmed Nigeria's emerging status as a medical tourism hub. Patients from Niger, Chad, and Cameroon visit Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for kidney transplants, while diaspora return for IVF at centers like The Bridge Clinic due to cost savings and expertise. Facilities such as Cedarcrest Hospital in Kaduna and Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja attract regional clients for specialized procedures.
Olowolafe stressed retaining talent amid brain drain, which underscores the quality of Nigerian medical education, and advocated local production of medicines to cut import reliance. “We must make Africa not just a market for medical solutions but a maker of medical breakthroughs,” he added.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, described medical tourism as a massive capital flight equivalent to over 30% of Nigeria's annual budget, straining foreign exchange and public confidence. He identified oncology as a priority, with 40% of travelers seeking such care, and appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors to end their strike, assuring progress on their 19-point demands.
The NMA committed to advocacy and innovation to position Africa as a healthcare destination.