Nigeria loses N80 bn annually on medical tourism

The Senate Committee on Health has expressed concerns over the huge amount of money being spent by Nigerians on trips abroad for medical treatment.

Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP-Delta)-led Committee while exchanging views with the Minister of State for  Health, Dr Mohammed Pate  and stakeholders in the sector at the budget defence session.

According to him, close to N80 billion is being spent yearly on medical tourism in the country and this has to be checked.

"We know that several Nigerians travel outside the shores of this country to the United Kingdom and India for medical treatment.

"You and I will agree that this is not the direction we need to go.

"I believe that we spend close to N80 billion yearly on medical tourism in this country and this is not the way we have to go," he stressed.

The committee chairman said that with 2013 budget estimate of about N297 billion, only 20 per cent was earmarked for capital development. Source

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Well, Isnt it the Government that spends 98% of this "Our Money" on foreign Medications?