PPP opens up health investment, says SGH

Ahmed, business development officer for the Saudi-based tertiary health care group, continued promotion of public-private partnership would dampen concerns about security and financial climate of Nigeria and open  the country to more opportunities in health provision.Speaking during a courtesy visit on Daily Trust, he said investors “wanted Nigeria to get this impression [concern about insecurity] […]

Ahmed, business development officer for the Saudi-based tertiary health care group, continued promotion of public-private partnership would dampen concerns about security and financial climate of Nigeria and open  the country to more opportunities in health provision.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on Daily Trust, he said investors “wanted Nigeria to get this impression [concern about insecurity] out of people to get them to come here and put their money in Nigeria.”
He said SGH, which runs four hospitals in the Middle East, sought expansion into Africa, beginning with Nigeria where it already has several referral centres that refer patients to its Middle East hospitals for extensive treatments.
Ahmed noted that having a SGH facility in Nigeria would cut down medical trips abroad and save foreign exchange while bringing world-class health care closer to more Nigerians.
He noted that a stronger PPP could allow investors opt to have SGH’s construction arm design, build, operate and manage hospitals for private investors, or operate outsourced services or existing government-owned facilities to improve service delivery.
Ahmed noted that the presence of SGH in Nigeria would not make healthcare expensive and priced beyond the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians.
“It has to match the prices of the country. In the end, it will be controlled. The beauty of bringing SGH here is to save the people spending money outside and also save a lot of high expenses.