The Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital (AMSH) is set to introduce robotic technology for urological surgeries, further strengthening its position as a leading hub for advanced medical care in Nigeria.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Akinola Akinmade, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti while briefing journalists on key milestones recorded under the hospital’s transplant programme, including the successful completion of 40 renal transplants since 2024.
Dr Akinmade said the proposed adoption of robotic surgery represents another major step in AMSH’s drive to deliver world-class healthcare services comparable to standards obtainable in advanced medical systems abroad.
According to him, the hospital’s growing capacity for specialised procedures is already reversing the long-standing trend of outbound medical tourism, as patients increasingly choose to access quality care locally at significantly lower costs.
He added that the functionality of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport has further enhanced the hospital’s reach, making it easier for patients within and outside Nigeria to access timely medical intervention.
“We are now reversing medical tourism,” Akinmade said. “The traditional direction has always been outward, with people travelling abroad for procedures. But patients are beginning to see that they can get quality care in Nigeria for a fraction of the cost.”
He explained that the presence of the airport is particularly critical in handling time-sensitive medical emergencies, noting that certain conditions require intervention within a narrow window to prevent fatalities.
“In cases such as myocardial infarction, patients must reach a catheterisation laboratory within 120 minutes. Previously, this would have been nearly impossible for someone travelling long distances by road. The airport now makes it possible to bring such patients in quickly and save lives,” he said.
Akinmade also urged policymakers to consider the strategic importance of healthcare infrastructure, stressing that in many life-threatening emergencies, travelling overseas for treatment may not be an option.
On his part, the Team Lead of the Marengo Asia Renal Team, Dr Rajeev Sood, said AMSH is now providing patients in Nigeria and abroad access to world-class renal care without the financial and emotional burden associated with medical tourism.
Sood noted that while disparities still exist across healthcare centres in the country, facilities such as AMSH are rapidly closing the gap by offering high-quality kidney transplant services at competitive costs.
