Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said Nigeria loses over $1.1 billion annually to outbound medical tourism.
Kalu stated this when he received the president/CEO of Montefiore Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr Phillip Ozuah in Abuja yesterday.
The deputy speaker said Nigeria also faced the challenge of declining international health aid, adding that despite some gains, government action alone was insufficient.
Kalu said Nigeria has made notable strides in the health sector with wild polio been eradicated, maternal and child health services expanded and tertiary health institutions reaching more Nigerians than ever before.
“Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government has committed
to bold reforms and citizen-focused policies, with the 2024 national budget allocating over N1.33 trillion to the health sector, the largest in our history.
“Yet, budgets alone do not deliver outcomes; resilient systems do. These systems must be purposefully designed, adequately equipped, and consistently strengthened through clear policy, sustained investment, and innovative partnerships,” he said.
According to Kalu, the 10th National Assembly has taken significant steps such making
health coverage mandatory under the NHIA Act.
“The Basic Health Care Provision Fund has been expanded to support primary healthcare nationwide.
Obsolete health laws have been modernised. Local pharmaceutical research is being promoted to boost domestic manufacturing.
“The Health Infrastructure Development and Regulation Bill has unified standards across the sector. The Medical Residency Training Fund (Amendment) Bill is advancing to stem brain drain.
The National Assembly Clinic was commissioned as a model for public-sector healthcare delivery,” he added.
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