Kelina Hospital Pioneers Advanced Surgery in Nigeria

Kelina Hospital, established in Abuja in 2008 by Dr. Celsus Ukelina Undie, has transformed the landscape of advanced surgery in Nigeria. Dr. Undie, a distinguished consultant urological surgeon, founded the hospital with a singular vision to bring advanced minimal access surgery to Nigerian patients. With an MBBS from the University of Nigeria Medical School in 1990, Dr. Undie had previously served as a Consultant Urologist and Head of Urology at National Hospital, Abuja, from December 2005 to July 2016. His experience solidified his commitment to elevating local medical care.

Before establishing Kelina, Dr. Undie recognized the need for advanced surgical facilities in Nigeria. Many Nigerians sought overseas medical treatment due to the lack of local facilities. Between 2008 and the mid-2020s, medical tourism cost Nigeria between $1 billion and $2 billion annually, with approximately 30,000 Nigerians traveling abroad for care each year. Kelina Hospital was built as a direct response to this growing challenge, offering world-class care domestically and providing a tangible alternative for patients who once felt compelled to travel abroad.

Kelina Hospital quickly carved out its pioneering status through a series of significant firsts in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It became the first institution in West Africa to successfully perform Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP), a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. By 2012, the hospital had also achieved Nigeria’s first Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL). These groundbreaking procedures expanded the scope of local treatment options and demonstrated emerging local capability in complex surgical disciplines.

The hospital’s emergence provided a tangible alternative for patients who once felt compelled to travel to India, Europe, or America. By performing complex surgeries within Nigeria, Kelina reduced the financial and logistical burdens on families. Its success proved that high-quality, specialized medical care could thrive locally. Kelina steadily expanded its service specialties beyond urology, incorporating Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Family Medicine, and Nephrology, demonstrating a broad commitment to comprehensive advanced care.

Kelina Hospital’s strategy involved cultivating local talent. The hospital committed to training and empowering Nigerian medical professionals to handle sophisticated equipment and procedures. This focus ensured long-term sustainability for advanced surgical services, contributing to the broader local content drive. By investing in its staff, Kelina fostered a self-sufficient ecosystem of expertise, directly contrasting with the brain drain plaguing the healthcare sector.

In 2025, Kelina Hospital solidified its legacy of innovation by pioneering Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP). The hospital began performing these complex procedures using cutting-edge robotic platforms. By June 2026, Kelina had independently performed over 50 robotic procedures with an all-Nigerian team, underscoring the hospital’s self-reliance and the high skill level of its local surgeons. This achievement positioned Kelina at the forefront of a new surgical era in Nigeria.

Despite the high cost of robotic surgery, Kelina prioritized accessibility and excellence. The hospital’s commitment to these expensive yet transformative technologies demonstrated its dedication to providing Nigerians with the best possible care. Kelina Hospital’s journey from a nascent specialist clinic in 2008 to a leading surgical center today vividly reveals the potent force of focused ambition and strategic, long-term investment in Nigerian institutions.

Key points

• Kelina Hospital reduced Nigeria's medical tourism costs by offering advanced surgical services locally.
• The hospital performed Nigeria's first Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in 2012.
• Kelina Hospital pioneered Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) in Nigeria in 2025.