The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards improving Nigeria's healthcare infrastructure by commissioning 10 MedServe diagnostic centres across the country. This move is part of the government's efforts to enhance healthcare services and reduce the need for Nigerians to seek medical treatment abroad. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at the commissioning of the MedServe centre at UCH, one of the 10 facilities delivered under the Federal Government's healthcare infrastructure programme through the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
According to Prof. Pate, the 10 diagnostic centres and six cancer centres are part of 16 major health projects approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February 2024. Out of the six cancer centres, three have been completed, while three others are under construction, bringing the number of completed projects to 13. The minister emphasized that the government is working on plans for a major upgrade of UCH, describing it as Nigeria's first teaching hospital and a national centre of medical excellence.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, stated that the Federal Government aims to reduce Nigerians' dependence on overseas medical treatment by expanding diagnostic and specialised healthcare services. He noted that the UCH facility is part of the Phase One healthcare expansion programme of NSIA through MedServe, which comprises 13 centres expected to serve about 300,000 Nigerians within their first two years of operation.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed about $24 million to support MedServe's expansion of diagnostic and specialised healthcare services across Nigeria. According to the Regional Director of IFC, Olivier Buyoya, the financing will expand access to reliable diagnostics, promote earlier disease detection, and reduce the need for Nigerians to travel long distances for treatment. This investment is expected to create more than 17,000 jobs and train about 500 Nigerian medical specialists.
The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, said the facility, which houses a radiodiagnostic centre and cardiac catheterisation laboratory, will strengthen the hospital's capacity to provide timely diagnosis and specialised treatment. He emphasized that the project reinforces UCH's tripartite mandate of clinical services, research, and training, while creating opportunities for improved diagnosis, advanced treatment, and better health outcomes.
Prof. Pate identified health worker shortages, migration, and remuneration as major challenges facing the healthcare sector, adding that the government is working to improve compensation within available resources. He disclosed that quotas for training medical, nursing, and pharmacy students have been doubled, although the impact will take years to materialize. The government's broader objective is to build a health system capable of meeting Nigerians' needs and attracting patients from across West Africa and Africa.
The commissioning of the MedServe centres and the planned upgrade of UCH demonstrate the government's commitment to addressing healthcare infrastructure gaps in Nigeria. The partnership between MedServe, NSIA, government, and IFC highlights the importance of combining public and private capital to improve healthcare services. With these developments, Nigerians can expect improved access to quality healthcare services, reduced medical tourism, and enhanced health outcomes.
Key points
- The Federal Government has commissioned 10 MedServe diagnostic centres nationwide to improve healthcare services and reduce medical tourism.
- The government plans a major infrastructure upgrade at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to enhance its capacity to provide specialised treatment.
- The IFC has committed $24 million to support MedServe's expansion of diagnostic and specialised healthcare services across Nigeria.
