UCH will address brain drain, medical tourism challenges in Nigeria —CMD

The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, is capable of resolving the brain drain and medical tourism challenges plaguing the nation’s health sector.

Professor Temitope Alonge, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, made this known at a news briefing to herald the week-long activities lined-up for the 60th anniversary of UCH.

According to him, UCH has now become a stop-gap between the private and general hospitals in the country through intervention in form of private suites for those who patronise the private health facilities.

“The advantage of private suites for patients is that it offers facilities, equipment and specialists in various fields to attend to their needs at a specified cost. At the same time, we still handle other needs of patients in the area of general provision of healthcare services they require,” he said. Alonge said that private suites were designed to render quality healthcare services to those who could afford to pay. He said that this had encouraged inward medical tourism in Nigeria.

According to him, the rationale of developing the private suites concept was to discourage medical tourism abroad and enable patients to spend less and still get quality services.

“Private suites have separate laboratory, ultra-sound, diagnostic centre, operating theatre as well as executive suites. They are also equipped with two High Dependency Units (HDU) with a crash cart, oxygen and Dangerous Drugs Administrative (DDA) section monitored by a matron to prevent abuse of the strong drugs (opiates/morphines).’’ Alonge disclosed that UCH, which took- off as a 350-bed hospital at its inception in 1957, had grown to a 1000-bed hospital, with bed occupancy between 60 and  70 per cent.

He added that the hospital was able to survive the 60 years through the meagre resources from the government subvention with the philanthropic gestures and the Private Public Partnership (PPP) projects.

“The Tony Anennih Geriatric Centre which was built, equipped and donated by a philanthropist, Chief Tony Annenih in 2012, has treated 30,000 old people in the last five years

“We have provided health insurance scheme of N18, 000 annually for the patients that are 60 years and above. The patients’ only pay 50 per cent for drugs, consultancy and tests at the centre,” he said.