Nigeria Attracts US and UK Patients Seeking Healthcare

Nigeria Emerges as a Medical Destination for Foreign Patients

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that patients from countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are increasingly seeking medical care in Nigeria. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted this development during a briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He stated, “People are now beginning to come from the subregion, and even from faraway places like the UK and the US, to receive quality healthcare in Nigeria.”

This trend is attributed to ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and regulatory frameworks aimed at enhancing the quality of medical services in the country. The government has recently approved ₦12 billion for the procurement and installation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines and CT scanners across six tertiary health institutions, including:

• University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom
• Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Ogun State
• Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State
• Federal Medical Center, Keffi, Nasarawa State
• Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Adamawa State
• Federal Teaching Hospital, Kebbi State

These advancements are part of a broader effort to position Nigeria as a hub for quality healthcare services, attracting patients from both neighboring countries and more distant nations.

However, it’s important to note that while these improvements are underway, medical standards in Nigeria can differ from those in Western countries. Travel advisories, such as those from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, indicate that medical standards differ from the UK and that payment is required for any medical treatment at public hospitals.