ABUJA, Nigeria (FN), Nigerians are criticizing the federal government over mounting financial losses to medical tourism, with new figures showing the country spent more than $549 million on overseas medical travel in just nine months of 2025.
The Central Bank of Nigeria reported that medical tourism costs rose nearly 18 percent compared to the same period in 2024, with quarterly spending climbing from $151.5 million in the first quarter to $208.3 million in the third. Analysts say the trend reflects a growing reliance on foreign hospitals by politicians and elites, even for minor ailments, while domestic healthcare facilities remain underfunded.
Medical tourism has long been a contentious issue in Nigeria. Successive governments have pledged to improve healthcare infrastructure, but poor facilities, lack of advanced equipment, and the migration of skilled doctors have left many citizens without adequate care. Critics argue that billions of naira spent abroad could modernize Nigeria’s teaching hospitals and reduce the need for foreign treatment.
The debate is not new. In 2017, then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended medical stay in London sparked outrage, highlighting the dependence of leaders on foreign hospitals. By contrast, countries like Ghana and South Africa have invested heavily in tertiary hospitals, reducing outbound medical travel compared to Nigeria.
Civil society groups accuse officials of “squandering public wealth” while ordinary Nigerians struggle to access basic care. Economists warn that rising foreign exchange outflows for medical travel worsen Nigeria’s dollar shortages. Medical associations are calling for urgent investment in infrastructure, training, and incentives to retain doctors.
On social media, Nigerians expressed anger under hashtags such as #FixOurHospitals and #EndMedicalTourism, demanding accountability and legislation to restrict officials from using public funds for foreign medical treatment. Many shared personal stories of relatives denied adequate care locally, contrasting them with politicians’ overseas trips.
The controversy underscores a broader crisis in Nigeria’s healthcare system, where public frustration continues to mount over inequality and government inaction.
