Medical tourism or national neglect? Why Nigeria’s leaders don’t trust the hospitals they fund
Why Nigeria’s Leaders Flee Abroad for Healthcare While Public Hospitals Collapse. Photo credit; Eja Manifest.
By Eja Manifest
A storm of outrage followed a statement by a former media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, who said “If former President Buhari had been treated in Nigerian hospitals, he would have been long dead by now.”
This statement, widely criticized as provocative and condescending, isn’t just an offhand comment—it’s a window into a harsh national reality: Nigeria’s healthcare system is so broken that even its leaders refuse to entrust their lives to it.
A Broken System in the Eyes of Its Custodians
That such a blunt admission came from an insider—a former spokesperson of a sitting President—makes it even more alarming. Instead of defending Nigeria’s healthcare or highlighting efforts to improve it, the statement dismisses the system as a death sentence.
According to Dr. Fatima Bawa, a public health analyst, “The problem is not that we lack the manpower. We have some of the best-trained doctors and nurses in Africa. The problem is lack of investment, poor planning, and political will.”
By the Numbers: What Do the Figures Say?
The numbers speak volumes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria’s government spends only 3.9% of its GDP on health, far below the 15% Abuja Declaration benchmark agreed upon by African leaders in 2001. The country ranks 187 out of 191 countries in WHO’s global ranking of health systems.
Nigerian budget for health in 2024: ₦1.33 trillion (approximately 5% of total national budget)
Number of functional government hospitals nationwide: Less than 20% are adequately equipped (National Primary Health Care Development Agency, 2023)
Doctor-to-patient ratio: 1:5,000 (WHO recommends 1:600)
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) estimates that over 4,000 Nigerian doctors leave the country each year for better opportunities abroad. In the UK alone, over 11,000 Nigerian-trained doctors are registered with the General Medical Council as of 2024.
Medical Tourism: A Costly Escape
Nigeria reportedly spends over $2 billion annually on medical tourism, with the top destinations being India, the UK, Germany, the US, and Dubai. In 2022 alone, President Buhari spent more than 200 days in London receiving medical attention—while Nigerian hospitals remained in crisis.
A Lagos-based health economist, Dr. Charles Okoye, describes it as “a betrayal of public trust.” He explains:
“Medical tourism by our politicians is not just a financial waste—it’s a vote of no confidence in our own institutions. It tells citizens: ‘We will not fix this system because we don’t need to use it.’ That’s dangerous.”
Healthcare as a Right, Not a Privilege
Section 17(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly states that “The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons.” Yet, millions of Nigerians lack access to even the most basic care.
Patients still die of preventable diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and childbirth complications. According to UNICEF, Nigeria accounts for 10% of global maternal deaths—the fourth-highest in the world.
The tragic irony is that Nigerian-trained health professionals are thriving in foreign hospitals. In Saudi Arabia, the US, and the UK, they are consistently praised for their professionalism and work ethic.
One Nigerian nurse working in Canada, who prefers to remain anonymous, said:
“The difference is the environment. We are the same people, but here, we have the tools, respect, and support we need to save lives. Back home, you’re forced to improvise in near-impossible conditions.”
A Way Forward: Rebuilding Trust in Our System
It’s not all gloom. There are steps that can change the trajectory of Nigeria’s healthcare system—if leaders have the will.
1. Substantial investment in health infrastructure: Equip hospitals with 21st-century technology and improve rural healthcare access.
2. Prioritize medical professionals: Improve wages, offer incentives, and support career advancement to curb brain drain.
3. Accountability in health spending: Establish public trackers for healthcare budgets and procurement processes.
4. Ban non-emergency foreign medical trips for public officials: This would compel serious investment in local care.
5. Public-private partnerships: Leverage private sector expertise and funding in building world-class facilities locally.
Conclusion
The former aide’s statement may have sounded like a gaffe, but it reflects a deeply ingrained and tragic truth: those who govern Nigeria do not believe in the systems they control. Unless bold reforms are made—starting with sincere investment and visible commitment to the local healthcare sector—Nigerians will continue to die not because there are no solutions, but because those in charge choose not to apply them.
It is time to turn medical tourism from an elite escape into a national shame that forces change. A reformed health sector won’t only heal the sick—it will also restore trust, preserve dignity, and project national pride.
