Nigeria’s healthcare access less than 30% – Expert

The President, World Medical Association (WMA) Dr. Osahon Enabulele, has lamented that the nation’s access to healthcare is less than 30 percent. Dr. Enabulele disclosed this on Monday during the commissioning of the diagnostic centre of the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital established by its founder, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin. He said, “Diagnostic […]

The President, World Medical Association (WMA) Dr. Osahon Enabulele, has lamented that the nation’s access to healthcare is less than 30 percent.

Dr. Enabulele disclosed this on Monday during the commissioning of the diagnostic centre of the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital established by its founder, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin.

He said, “Diagnostic services provide critical access to healthcare and treatment by patients which is available in other climes”.

“In Nigeria, access to healthcare is less than 30 percent because the facilities are not there. But with the diagnostic facilities now, it will gradually improve access to healthcare”.

He noted that diagnostic facilities were essential elements in diagnosis and treatment of serious ailments, calling on other well-meaning individuals to emulate Chief Igbinedion in providing such facilities to create more opportunities for Nigerians to access healthcare.

Enabulele stressed the need for Nigeria’s medical experts in diaspora to come back home and invest in healthcare.

Also speaking, Chief Igbinedion, the Chancellor of the University, said the decision to establish the diagnostic centre was to curb medical tourism in the country.

“The teaching hospital and diagnostic centre with all the necessary equipment is to enable consultants to carry out their duty without having to go and set up their own and do their charges in partnership with the centre,” he said.

Igbinedion, represented by the deputy Chancellor of Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Chief Lucky Igbinedion, said the diagnostic centre would operate 24 hours services and reduce medical tourism, saying IUO international cancer centre with modern equipment would soon come on board for cancer patients.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Godwin Nosakhare Bazuaye, said the facilities would render services such as CT-scan, X-ray, Ultrasound, electrocardiography (ECG), Echocardiography (ECHO), fertility profiling among others.