Why Nigerians Keep Looking Abroad For Healthcare
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE
Medical Tourism Reflects Deepening Trust Deficit in Nigeria’s Health System – Experts
HEALTH sector experts say Nigeria’s estimated annual medical tourism spending of about $1.3 billion reflects a widening crisis of public confidence in the country’s healthcare system rather than merely gaps in funding or infrastructure.
Stakeholders who spoke in separate interviews in Abuja on Friday warned that the steady outflow of patients and health professionals points to a systemic erosion of trust, with long-term consequences for service delivery, workforce morale, and national health security.
Beyond Infrastructure and Funding
Dr. Richard Ajayi, Executive Vice Chairman of Bridge Clinic Fertility Centre, said the trend showed many Nigerians no longer believed the local health system could adequately protect or treat them when serious medical needs arose.
According to Ajayi, public confidence is further undermined when political leaders and senior officials seek medical care abroad, reinforcing perceptions that domestic hospitals and regulatory institutions are unreliable.
He argued that the crisis goes beyond underfunding or workforce migration, describing it as a gradual breakdown of trust in health institutions, leadership accountability, and regulatory oversight.
Data Shows Sharp Spending Decline
Recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Balance of Payments data shows a sharp contraction in outward medical tourism spending. Between January and June 2025, expenditure fell by 96.2 per cent year-on-year compared to the same period in 2024.
CBN figures indicate that spending totalled $2.38 million in the first half of 2024, driven largely by a January spike of about $2.30 million. In contrast, total spending for the first half of 2025 was just $0.09 million, with monthly outlays remaining minimal.
Analysts caution, however, that the decline may reflect foreign exchange constraints and economic pressures rather than renewed confidence in domestic healthcare.
Hidden Consequences of Trust Loss
Dr. Muyiwa Tegbe, Managing Partner at Park Harmon Advisory, said declining overseas travel did not necessarily translate into improved local care-seeking behaviour.
He noted that many Nigerians increasingly resort to home births, self-medication, or informal treatments, delaying professional care and heightening health risks.
Experts agreed that rebuilding trust would require consistent leadership accountability, transparent financing, strong regulation, and respectful engagement with health workers nationwide.
