A professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Tanimola Akande, has said that Nigeria loses N81bn yearly to medical tourism.
He accused the government of not providing quality and accessible health care services for the citizens.
He said this while delivering the UNILORIN’s 142nd inaugural lecture in Ilorin.
The professor also stated that quacks, clerics and practitioners of alternative medicine were exploiting the poor health care system of the country.
Akande said, “It is sad that because the government is unable to provide quality and readily accessible health care to its citizens, Nigeria loses about N81bn annually to medical tourism as countries like India cash in on the sick health system in Nigeria.”
The don called for strong political commitment to improve health care services through the passage of the Health bill into law.
According to him, the bill has enough provisions to transform Nigeria’s health system.
Akande said there was a need to make holistic efforts to improve health care through the development and implementation of human resource policies at all levels of government.
He added that incentives should be provided to attract health workers to the rural areas.
“Health financing should be improved considerably in Nigeria at all levels to meet with,at least, the minimum recommended by the World Health Organisation and the 2001 Abuja Declaration of African countries.
“At least, 15 per cent of the total budget should be allocated to the health sector.There should be rapid scaling-up to increase coverage of Nigerians enrolled in Health Insurance Scheme by all stakeholders,” Akande said.
The don stated that preventive health measures should be promoted among Nigerians to ensure healthy lifestyle. He also urged people to desist from acts that constitute health risk to themselves and others.
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