Nigeria Will Ultimately Become Centre Of Medical Tourism- Dabiri-Erewa
The Nigeria healthcare system will ultimately become a centre of
medical hub with a major investment deal coming to the country, through
the establishment of the Africa Medical Centre for Excellence (AMCE).
(NIDCOM) stated this in Abuja while receiving Mr. Brian Deaver, the CEO,
AMCE and his team who paid her a courtesy call on Wednesday in her
office.
Noting that a number of Nigerian professionals in the healthcare
industry were beginning to invest in the sector in Nigeria, the NIDCOM
boss said that with the volume of Medical facilities planned for the
centre, it will go a long way to reduce brain drain of medical
professionals and a game changer in medical tourism.
Dabiri-Erewa added that having NiDCOM on board as a partner, will help
attract Nigerian medical personnel
working in the Diaspora to tap into their expertise and capacity
building
“With the assemblage of this wonderful team, I am optimistic that the
project is already a huge success. I therefore assure you of our support
and partnership in this regard” , she said.
She added that if the vision and mission of the project is fully
implemented as conceived, it will not only revamp the current situation
of Nigeria’s health sector but will change Nigeria to a centre of
destination for medical tourism.
She, however, advised that there should be provision for the treatment
of the less privileged in the society, so that the facilities will be
for all categories of humanity.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa seized the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Aisha
Umar, the Chief Medical Officer of AMCE on her latest appointment,
describing her as one of the best in the health sector.
The NiDCOM Boss gave the assurance of the Commission’s readiness to work
with AMCE group, as a Technical Committee will be created to that
effect.
Earlier, Mr Brian Deaver, the CEO of AMCE, who introduced his team of
experts, said that the project is a world-class medical service hub
aimed at providing efficient health care delivery in Nigeria, especially
in Cancer and Cardiovascular related treatments.
According to him, the establishment of the Centre in Nigeria will
reverse the flow of external medical tourism, estimated at six billion
dollars annually.
With the on-going project in Nigeria, Deaver said that over 1000
Nigerian medical and non-medical staff will be recruited.
He said that the centre will be one of the many world class cancer
treatment and diagnosis centres to be built in Nigeria with over $700
million funding support from an Afrexim bank
Speaking in the same vein, Dr. Aisha Umar, the Chief Medical Officer of
AMCE said that the group has been enthusiastic in partnering with Africa
in Healthcare delivery with the pilot business in Abuja, Nigeria in the
next two years as well as providing excellent training for medical
personnel.
