'Foreigners Now Flocking To Nigeria For Medical Treatment' – Health Minister
Alausa claimed that with improvements in the healthcare system, the country was witnessing a reversal of the ‘japa syndrome,’ suggesting that medical personnel were returning home from abroad
Joy Kalu 
The Federal government has said the country’s healthcare system is attracting foreign patients, including Indians seeking medical treatments.
In an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, claimed that the nation’s healthcare was no longer in crisis.
He claimed that with improvements in the healthcare system, the country was witnessing a reversal of the ‘Japan syndrome,’ suggesting that medical personnel were returning home from abroad.
The Minister 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.
According to him, the proliferation of aesthetic hospitals, numbering close to 900 across Nigeria, also contributes to attracting patients seeking services such as plastic surgery.
“Today, we have almost 900 aesthetic hospitals around Nigeria. People are coming to get plastic surgery,’’ he said.
He noted that the administration’s commitment to prioritizing public health led to positive changes in the healthcare sector.
“We have a President now that believes a healthy nation is the core to harnessing our biggest asset, which is our human capital,” Alausa said.
He added that the government allocated dedicated funds and initiated collaborations to enhance primary healthcare services and expand health insurance coverage.
“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”, he said.
