The Lagos State Government has announced an initiative to provide free open-heart surgeries for 30 indigent patients, aiming to ease the financial burden on those unable to afford the life-saving procedure.
Speaking on Monday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stated that the program is fully sponsored by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and will be conducted in three phases—April, August, and December. Each surgery, typically costing N8.5 million per patient, will be offered at no cost.
“There’s a reason why we’re doing this—to let Nigerians know what we’re trying to achieve in this country,” Abayomi said. “Many patients who cannot afford treatment abroad are left without options. Some heart conditions can be managed with medication, but others require surgical intervention. If patients do not have access to these surgeries, they will die of their conditions—something that, as a responsible government, we do not want to see.”
The commissioner also commended medical professionals in Lagos for their dedication to advancing surgical care within state-owned medical institutions.
Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, emphasized that only indigent patients would be eligible for the free surgeries. Meanwhile, Prof. Bode Falase, Head of the Cardio-Thoracic Division, revealed that patient selection would begin next month.
Despite increased investments in healthcare, Falase acknowledged the challenges in acquiring medical equipment and ensuring accessible surgical care. “Surgery remains the immediate limitation. The current average cost of open-heart surgery in Nigeria is N8.5 million (about $5,000). Many people simply cannot afford this, and I have seen firsthand how patients struggle due to financial constraints,” he said.
The initiative represents a significant step toward improving healthcare accessibility in Lagos and reducing medical tourism for critical procedures.
