……Commissions Ultramodern Facilities to Curb Medical Tourism
The Federal Government has intensified its commitment to making quality healthcare accessible and affordable for Nigerians by commissioning state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this known during his official visit to commission the ultramodern clinical services building and ward extension complex at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, in Abuja.
In his keynote address, Dr. Salako emphasized that the newly commissioned 64-bed facility and the advanced clinical services building, which includes a dedicated renal unit with 18 hemodialysis beds, align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Highlighting the administration’s commitment to significant investment in the health sector, Dr. Salako described FMC Jabi as a shining example of the government’s determination to reduce reliance on medical tourism.
“With these new additions, our tertiary healthcare system is being strengthened, and the need to travel abroad for critical care services such as kidney transplantation is being addressed,” Dr. Salako noted.
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He also stressed the government’s efforts to make essential healthcare services, such as dialysis, more accessible and affordable.
“Last year, the government initiated a program to reduce the cost of dialysis by approximately 80% in 10 selected federal tertiary health institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country. Moving forward, FMC Jabi is now well-positioned to join the implementation of this initiative,” he added.
Dr. Salako acknowledged that while these measures are temporary, the government is actively working on more sustainable solutions to address healthcare affordability. These include unlocking the healthcare value chain, removing tariffs on pharmaceuticals, and expanding National Health Insurance coverage.
In his welcome address, the Medical Director of FMC Jabi, Prof. Saad Ahmed, affirmed the hospital’s dual mission of delivering quality healthcare and serving as a training center for doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, and medical students from Baze University, Abuja.
The newly commissioned facilities mark a significant step towards improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria and reducing the financial burden on citizens while curbing medical tourism.
