The Federal government has said the country’s healthcare system is enjoying patronage from foreign patients, including Indians seeking medical treatments.

Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, highlighted Nigeria’s remarkable transformation in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, stating that the nation’s healthcare was no longer in crisis. 

He attributed the positive change to the administration’s commitment to prioritising public health as a cornerstone for national development.

“We have a President now that believes a healthy nation is the core to harnessing our biggest asset, which is our human capital,” Dr. Alausa said. 

Dr. Alausa said the ministry was tackling the issue of people leaving Nigeria to seek medical treatments abroad.

He stated that one of the key approaches was expanding medical education and nursing schools.

He said that the ministry also increased nursing school enrollment.

He further said that with improvements in the healthcare system, the country was witnessing a reversal of the ‘japa syndrome,’ as medical practitioners were returning home from abroad.

He pointed out that Nigeria had become a preferred destination for medical tourism, particularly for surgical procedures, which were more cost-effective compared to other countries. 

The minister said that the proliferation of aesthetic hospitals, numbering close to 900 across Nigeria, also contributed to attracting patients seeking services such as plastic surgery.

He said, “Today, we have almost 900 aesthetic hospitals around Nigeria. People are coming to get plastic surgery.’’

He also said that the government allocated dedicated funds and initiated collaborations to enhance primary healthcare services and expand health insurance coverage. 

Dr. Alausa added, “The President has mandated us to increase coverage from about seven million to about 50 million people to have health insurance in the next two to three years.”

“This marks the highest budget allocation for the health sector in almost 24 years,” Dr. Alausa added.

He also said it signalled a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare system and position itself as a regional hub for medical services.