Medical tourism can be reduced, says Minister

Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of State for Health, has said that medical tourism can be reduced, with the efforts being put in place by the Buhari regime.

“Our duty as a country is to put in place proper Medicare facilities as a means to reduce medical tourism.

“The reason people travel abroad for treatment is to get equipment or facilities that are not in the country.

“Before, in the 50s and 60s, Nigeria benefited from medical tourism even as the Royal family from Sudan used to come to the 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, like physical infrastructure, and up to date medical equipment,’’ Mamora said.

According to him, the country needs to make the medical system efficient because people like to be comfortable in hospitals.

“Once these things are provided, medical tourism will be reduced and it will make our hospitals more attractive,’’ he said.