Politics
Nigeria losses N3b/yr to medical tourism, says ministerial nominee
The Senate on Tuesday continued with the screening of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees, with the screening of six candidates.
Those screened included a former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Folorunsho Adewole, and Abubakar Bwari amongst others.
Bwari, while answering questions from Senators, pledged to serve his fatherland, Nigeria with the fear of God, if he is successfully screened and confirmed as a minister in President Buhari’s incoming cabinet.
In response to a question by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Bwari a former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, said if he is posted to the FCT ministry, he will carry out his assessment and make relevant recommendations.
As a former lawmaker, Bwari was given the honour of not being grilled extensively. However, Prof. Folorunsho Adewole was not that lucky, as he was extensively grilled by the Senators before Bwari.
Adewole lamented that Nigeria lost between one and three billion naira annually to medical tourism, calling for adequate facility for Nigerian doctors to enhance their productivity and curb the rate at which Nigerians travelled for medical tourism.
Read also: Ministerial screening shifted to Oct 27
“It has been estimated that we lose between one and three billion naira every year to medical tourism.
“The most important destination is India, and I make bold today that we have competent Nigerians who can do these jobs.
“What we need is a well updated and upgraded healthcare system, well equipped with robust infrastructure.
“When that happens, it will reduce medical tourism because it is cheaper to do it at home; it is also health promoting to stay with your people.
“Rather than to go to India and be treated in an unfriendly environment, I will rather support that we develop the infrastructure at home,” he said.
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