Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria is experiencing a surge in reverse medical tourism, with an increasing number of patients from the United States seeking affordable and high-quality kidney transplants in Nigerian medical facilities.
During a recent visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN), Shettima highlighted the growing trend of patients from the U.S. traveling to Nigeria for treatment. He attributed this rise to the affordability and expertise found within Nigeria’s medical facilities.
The Vice President specifically mentioned Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, where 13 patients from the U.S. recently underwent kidney transplants. He noted that the costs are significantly lower in Nigeria while maintaining comparable expertise.
Shettima stressed the importance of continued investment in specialized medical education to sustain and further this progress. He also acknowledged the financial challenges faced by many Nigerian patients in affording post-transplant care, particularly the cost of immunosuppressant drugs.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to becoming a top destination for medical tourism in Nigeria and West Africa, in response to the outflow of Nigerian money for medical care abroad. Additionally, the Federal Government, according to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, is strengthening the tertiary healthcare system to address medical tourism.