‘AFRICA LOSES $7B YEARLY TO MEDICAL TOURISM’

Africa loses an estimated $7 billion every year as patients travel abroad for medical treatment, with more than 300,000 Africans travelling to India alone yearly in search of specialist care, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH), has disclosed.

The hospital disclosed this at a media roundtable in Lagos, where it called for a stronger investment in Africa’s healthcare systems, while positioning its Nairobi facility as an alternative destination for Nigerians who currently seek treatment in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Chief Operating Officer of the hospital, Khurram Jamal, attributed the continued outflow of patients and healthcare spending to shortages of specialist services, inconsistent quality standards, fragmented medical travel pathways and the perception that quality healthcare was only available outside Africa.

According to him, reversing the trend requires building healthcare systems that inspire confidence rather than relying on appeals to patriotism.

He maintained that patients would only choose African hospitals if they consistently met international standards.

Jamal said Aga Khan University Hospital was the first in the region to attain Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and has maintained the certification through successive reaccreditations. He added that the hospital also holds internationally recognised certifications in pathology, laboratory medicine, cardiac care and stroke services.