The Chief Medical Director of Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital (AMSH), Dr Akinola Akinmade has called on governments to bolster healthcare infrastructure in the country in order to discourage Medical Tourism.
He advised to take a cue from ABUAD Hospital which has been described as the best equipped hospital in Sub Saharan Africa, with some of the best clinicians in the country.
According to him, this prestigious recognition also earned it an award for ‘Redefining Standards in Hospital Management, Clinical Delivery, Patient Experience and Innovation within Nigeria’s Healthcare System’, by the National Healthcare Excellence Awards Group.
The CMD, who said this in Ado-Ekiti while addressing journalists, also stated the former President Muhammadu Buhari could have been kept alive if he had received treatment at the Institution’s world-class medical facility.
Akinmade, who exuded confidence in the hospital’s cutting-egde technology and skilled personnel, said the Health facility would do everything in its capacity to keep the late President alive and functional.
He made these remarks in reaction to a recent statement by Femi Adesina, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Muhammadu Buhari, who said the ex-President would have died years ago if he had been treated in a Nigerian Hospital.
His words, “My stance has always been that a country that cannot treat their own ailments can be considered colonized. We have to be able to treat our own ailments.
“Our hospitals have to be able to take care of our own people and we cannot always resort to running outside the country for health care. It is important for us to develop our capabilities and these things don’t happen overnight.
“In terms of that, ABUAD Hospital has been described as the best equipped hospital in Sub Saharan Africa and beyond that, our hospital is staffed with some of the best clinicians in the country.
“One thing that is different about us is that we fight for every life. So, I can assure you that if we had been the ones attending to the former president, we would have done everything possible to keep him alive and functional”.
The CMD also called on the government to urgently fix Ado-Ijan road, describing it as a critical access route that poses threat for emergency patients, transport and hospital partners.
He reaffirmed the Hospital’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare, training future health professionals and driving innovation that meets the real needs of Nigerians.
