Lagoon hospital commits to reduce medical tourism

As part of its commitment towards enhancing healthcare in Nigeria, Lagoon Hospitals has unveiled its newly acquired state-of-the-art equipment in advanced medical care for Nigerians to help reduce medical tourism.

The Chief Medical Director, Lagoon hospital, Dr. Jimi Coker, said the hospital, in its quest to utilise the latest technology, has made a significant investment in its critical care Urology, Neurosurgery and the new dialysis centre at its Ikoyi, Lagos facility.

He said Lagoon Hospitals’ choice to invest hugely on these new technologies was borne out of the need to fill the gaps within the country’s health sector, as well as reducing medical tourism, especially a large number of people leaving the country to seek such medical treatment abroad.

According to the Chief Medical Director, Nigeria stands to lose revenue up to one billion US dollars if the situation of medical tourism remains unabated.

Coker listed the equipment acquired by the hospital, which includes the Holmium Laser and its accessories for the minimally invasive treatment of kidney and ureteral stones, along with the equipment in the treatment for an enlarged prostate condition like the bipolar prostate resectoscope, which he said is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

A resectoscope is a type of endoscope used in surgeries of the uterus, prostate, bladder, or urethra. The device may be used to extract tissue for biopsy, remove growths, or ablate diseased or damaged tissue. He added that the equipment would be a handle by a team of well-trained and qualified personnel to ensure optimum service. Coker explained that Lagoon hospitals embarked on the expansion of its critical care unit to 12 beds, which will provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care for critically ill patients leveraging on the services of experienced intensive care physicians, surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists among others.

Representing the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Titilayo Goncalves, said the state government would give maximum support to the private sector in any form of technological advancement that will add value to the health sector. She further disclosed that the government would remain committed to the attainment of sustainable healthcare delivery, as qualitative healthcare delivery is part of the administration’s priorities.

She, however, congratulated the Lagoon hospitals for investing heavily on the equipment and facilities aimed at saving lives and building the capacity of health workers as well as helping to curb medical tourism.