The governor of Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has said that the state Diagnostic Centre which is being handed over to the Nigeria Sovereign Investments Authority, has come a long way and is taking a bold step through this strategic partnership between the state government and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to launch two flagship companies.
He noted that the delivery of the Diagnostic and Oncology Cancer Services, covering automated medical laboratory services, including imaging, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and many more will be good to the people of Enugu State and beyond.
“This is a result of our deliberate effort, which is a strategic connection between good health, productivity and socioeconomic well-being of the people. The healthcare policies of our administration has been served by this consciousness that has found expression in the construction, equipping and commissioning of about nine Type-3 Primary Healthcare Centers, construction and equipping of the state Infectious Disease Hospital, renovation of all the general hospitals, equipping of the state tertiary hospitals, among others.”
“The State’s infectious disease hospital was the State’s strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic… I’m convinced that the incorporation of the NSIA has been one of the legacy decisions taken by the previous federal government. Regardless that NSIA approached us with the proposal within the twilight of our admin, we wasted no time in fast-tracking the process with our commitment to delivering quality healthcare services to our people of Enugu.
“The partnership has the propensity to engender medical tourism for Enugu State, stem the tide of avoidable deaths occasioned by Nigerians seeking quality healthcare services abroad. We congratulate the leadership, management and staff NSIA for the management of our nation’s excess revenue of crude oil as evidenced in their positive multi-sectoral interventions.” The governor said.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq announced three new developments that will help in transforming healthcare services in Enugu State, the south-eastern region in general and indeed, the entirety of Nigeria at large.
Umar-Sadiq made this known said that NSIA were in Enugu to play a part in bridging a gap which has costs Nigerians as a people, a lot of foreign exchange annually and also results in significant loss of lives. He said that Enugu state will build on its legacy of excellence and industry and add another feather to its illustrious cap as it will serve as the site for the NSIA’s first Oncology Centre in the Southeast.
“Historically, Enugu, the coal city, occupies a special place of pride in the South-east as the home to one of Nigeria’s first and finest universities, the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It also hosts one of Nigeria’s highly regarded tertiary medical institutions, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital at Ituku.
“Enugu will serve as the site for the NSIA’s first Oncology Centre in the Southeast. Once transferred, the structure behind us will house a worldclass Oncology and Diagnostic facility to serve the great people of Enugu, the whole of eastern Nigeria and indeed all Nigerians.The journey to the outcome we see today began about 5 years ago.
“The implications of this visionary decision have been far-reaching. Our approach was to consider the sector from both a social impact and commercial returns standpoint. We hinged our strategy on co-locating NSIA healthcare centres of excellence within federal tertiary medical institutions. This approach would see us provide equipment, operatorship, working capital and technical expertise while the designated partner institution would provide land, clinicians and expertise, and patient traffic.
“I am excited to say, that we will build 23 new modern medical diagnostic centres, three Oncology centres, and six Catheterization Laboratories across the country’s six geopolitical zones – including here in Enugu State.
“NSIA’s wholly owned healthcare diagnostics portfolio company called MedServe has been set up with the mandate to actualize these projects. NSIA also recognizes that a significant number of existing medical facilities and indeed care providers are unable to afford new equipment, in part on account of the high upfront costs and currency mismatch constraints.
“So today, Enugu joins Lagos, Kano and neighbouring Abia State where NSIA’s impactful healthcare projects are already saving lives and bringing succour to the people. NSIA is excited at the prospect of playing a central role in improving the quality of medical services and expanding healthcare infrastructure across the country starting with Enugu, through Medserve and EquiLease”. Umar-Sadiq said.
Also in an address, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Farouk Gumel who was represented at the occasion by Dr. Ogechi Pascal-Ejiogu, Non-Executive Director/ Board member said that NISA has developed a comprehensive healthcare strategy to address supply gaps and increase investments in priority areas, with a focus on elevating the domestic healthcare sector to international standards.
“That gap is healthcare financing and infrastructure. As most of you are aware, healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is still underdeveloped and remains a challenge. Gleaning from the country’s healthcare indicators one would still have reasons to be concerned. While we are blessed and have one of the fastest growing populations globally, with 5.5 live births per woman and a population growth rate of 3.2 percent annually, which in time will put our population at 400 million people by 2050, we are yet to fully put in place strong systems to guarantee health security for our people”. Gumel said
Gumel also noted that medical professionals in many specialized medical fields such as cardiology, oncology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, and many other areas are in short supply, with only about 35,000 doctors despite needing 237,000.
“We also lack manpower and skill in the sector. According to WHO, the situation will worsen due to massive migration of healthcare workers overseas. As a result of all these, Nigeria loses at least US$1.5 billion every year to medical tourism, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). Of this figure, India accounts for more than half. In essence, our sick end up travelling to India, the Middle East, Europe, and other far-flung places to get care when they should receive treatment within the country.
“When this happens, patients also incur associated costs for logistics, accommodation, caregivers, and emotional support systems. At the NSIA, we believe that this needs to stop. While we are confident that our healthcare challenges are solvable, we are of the view that the solution will come when the domestic financial system and healthcare system align to develop creative ways to crowd in patient capital, finance equipment acquisition sustainable and invest in human capital development in the sector”. Gumel stated.
Meanwhile, the NSIA, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, has signed a series of agreements to modernize and expand healthcare services through private sector participation.
“Under these agreements, we are looking to develop the capacity of specialist hospitals and diagnostic centers to provide advanced medical services across the country under phase II of our healthcare expansion programme. The Enugu State Diagnostic Centre will be our first in this phase.Our vision is to elevate the Centre to world-class status. We intend upgrading the centre using state-of-the-art equipment so that both patient and nearby hospitals are supported with accurate and timely medical results regarding health conditions. The centre will also provide oncology treatment. It will double as a cancer care centre for the south-east and south-south region. When we are done with the rehabilitation and re-equipping, it will be transformed into a full-service location for diagnostics and oncology”. He said
The NSIA also formally introduced Equilease Systems Limited, a new company created by the NSIA which sits at the intersection of Nigeria’s healthcare and financial systems to fill the gap limiting access to healthcare equipment finance and acquisition.
“Second, we will announce our new special purpose vehicle called MedServe which will serve to aggregate all our healthcare investments and programmes in a coordinated and efficient manner. MedServe will drive NSIA’s healthcare expansion programme on a commercial basis ensuring that affordability and access are no longer issues of concern.
“Lastly, under the auspices of His Excellency, Governor Ugwuanyi and the good people of Enugu State, we shall assume ownership of the Enugu State Diagnostic Centre and commence the process of retrofitting it into a world-class diagnostic centre, befitting for the people of Enugu and environs to receive first class services”. Gumel reitarated
The NSIA say it will remain passionate and committed to addressing the gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem and also to providing high quality medical services across the country.
“Our goal is to reverse medical tourism and simultaneously transform Nigeria into the Africa’s medical hub. More importantly, we believe that access to quality medical services is a fundamental human right and all Nigerians deserve to have it”. He said.
