Nigerians reportedly spent approximately $2.38 million on foreign healthcare services from January to June 2024, as per data from the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding foreign exchange utilization in the health sector.
The breakdown of these expenditures revealed varying amounts for each month, with the highest being in January at $2.3 million and the lowest in March at $0.01 million.
Comparatively, the spending in the first half of 2024 exceeded the total spent in the latter half of 2023, indicating a significant increase in medical tourism expenses.
Although there was a rise in spending, it was lower than the amount spent in the first half of 2023, suggesting a slight reduction in medical tourism costs.
To address this issue, initiatives like the healthcare expansion program aim to retrain frontline health workers to deter the trend of seeking medical treatment abroad.
Experts emphasize the need for investing in local healthcare facilities to curb medical tourism, especially among the elite, and stress the importance of creating a conducive environment for quality healthcare to thrive within the country.