The Federal Government has said Nigeria’s new robotic surgery programme will strengthen specialist surgical care, improve patient outcomes and help reduce the number of Nigerians travelling abroad for complex medical procedures.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, stated this at a dinner to celebrate the launch of the robotic surgery programme of Redeemer’s Health Village in Nigeria.

Salako said robotic-assisted surgery offers greater precision, faster recovery, shorter hospital stays and improved patient outcomes, describing the initiative as a significant step towards advancing specialised healthcare delivery in the country.

He said the development reflected the resilience and pioneering vision of Redeemer’s Health Village in expanding access to advanced medical services.

“The vision of robotic surgery that is being translated into reality today will no doubt help to save lives and add value to the country,” he said.

The minister noted that the programme aligns with the government’s health sector reform agenda, particularly efforts to improve healthcare outcomes and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.

Salako said the government recognised the critical role of the private sector in delivering high-end medical services and was promoting policies and incentives to attract greater private-sector investment in healthcare.

He cited the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order for Pharmaceutical and Allied Sectors as examples of government interventions aimed at revitalising local manufacturing and strengthening domestic capacity.

According to him, PVAC seeks to catalyse health security, economic growth and employment by accelerating transformation across the healthcare value chain through cross-institutional coordination and collaboration.

He added that the Presidential Executive Order complements the initiative by incentivising local manufacturing of medicines and other medical commodities, including syringes and rapid diagnostic test kits.

“These novel interventions leverage seemingly diverse drivers such as contextual funding mechanisms, pooled procurement, as well as research and innovation, to build resilient health systems, with the private sector as a major driver, being the sector delivering more than 50 per cent of healthcare services in our country,” Salako said.

He commended the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Redeemer’s Health Village for investing in advanced healthcare technology, describing the initiative as a milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards world-class healthcare.

Salako also applauded the Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Ademola Dada, and his team for investing in modern infrastructure, technology and human capacity to expand access to specialised healthcare.

According to him, the robotic surgery programme supports the government’s efforts to reduce outbound medical tourism, conserve foreign exchange and position Nigeria as a destination for high-quality healthcare.

He said the initiative was designed to improve health security, stimulate economic growth and build a more resilient healthcare system through stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Salako said the programme also includes a structured training and certification programme for Nigerian surgeons to equip them with the skills required to perform robotic-assisted surgical procedures safely and effectively.

He urged surgeons across the country to take advantage of the training opportunities to update their clinical skills and expand access to advanced surgical care.

The minister also said the government was developing formal pathways for Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora to contribute to strengthening the country’s health system, either temporarily or permanently.

He said, “As government, we will continue to create the enabling environment that allows visionary institutions like Redeemer’s Health Village to thrive, and for similar high-end healthcare facilities to grow across the country.

“With this new addition to robotic surgical care, the capacity to offer advanced, precise, minimally invasive care delivered by Nigerian hands trained to global standards in a Nigerian institution is being enhanced.”

He added that the development would enable more Nigerians to access advanced surgical care within the country, regardless of where they live.

Salako also commended the estimated $4 million investment in the project, describing it as a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s ongoing economic and health sector reforms.

He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in the country’s healthcare sector, saying such partnerships would create jobs, strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to quality medical services.