DEPUTY SPEAKER RAISES ALARM OVER $1.1 BILLION MEDICAL TOURISM LOSS, PUSHES FOR HEALTH REFORMS

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has disclosed that Nigeria loses over $1.1 billion annually to outbound medical tourism. In a meeting with Dr. Phillip Ozuah of Montefiore Medicine in Abuja, Kalu highlighted challenges such as dwindling international aid, brain drain, and inadequate systems. He lauded Tinubu’s administration for allocating over ₦1.33 trillion to health—the largest in Nigeria’s history—and revealed that the 10th National Assembly has enacted key reforms. These include making health coverage mandatory under the NHIA, modernising outdated laws, and passing bills to unify standards and improve training. The National Assembly Clinic was also commissioned as a model of government healthcare delivery. Kalu urged for sustained investment, clear policies, and global partnerships to strengthen health outcomes.