Nigeria loses an estimated $2 billion each year to medical tourism, a figure that underscores the urgent need to strengthen the country’s healthcare system. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, emphasised that building “health sovereignty” is critical if Nigeria is to reduce its reliance on foreign medical care.
Speaking through Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), during the commissioning of Avon Medical Centre in Surulere, Lagos, Pate attributed the heavy outflow of funds to a lack of trust in local healthcare and limited access to quality services. He stressed that reversing this trend requires not just investment but confidence in homegrown health solutions.
“This is not just about stopping medical tourism. It is about building health sovereignty, the ability of a country to care for its people, and develop its institutions, talent, and innovation,” he said.
Pate highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to revitalising the sector through initiatives such as the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the 2024–2027 Health Sector Strategic Blueprint. He encouraged the private sector to play a bigger role, noting that partnerships, regulatory reform, and expanded health insurance are crucial elements of the transformation.
“The government stands ready to co-create pathways for private-sector engagement, be it through health insurance expansion, regulatory reform, or partnerships with national health programmes. We welcome Avon Medical and all new private providers to come alongside us as partners in building a healthier, safer, and more equitable Nigeria.”
At the same event, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu echoed the call for collaboration, stressing that the government cannot meet the country’s healthcare needs alone. He urged the creation of a more welcoming environment for private investment.
“But we must create the enabling environment for private equity and investment to thrive. That said, Avon Medical, I dare say, has etched its name in the sands of time in this industry—not only in Lagos but in Nigeria as a whole,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited, Awele Elumelu, lamented the structural gaps in Nigeria’s health system, including the shortage of doctors, hospital beds, and equipment. She described these challenges as key reasons the system remains under pressure.
“In Nigeria, the lack of doctors, beds, and equipment puts our system under pressure,” she said. “We believe in Afri-capitalism—that the private sector has a responsibility not just to generate profit but to create lasting impact.” Elumelu added that Avon Medical was founded in 2009 to make world-class healthcare accessible and affordable to all, not just the privileged few.
