Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says serious private sector investments in Nigeria’s healthcare would reposition the sector and curb medical tourism.
Osinbajo expressed this view while inaugurating the Duchess International Hospital, a subsidiary of the Reddington Hospital Group, on Friday, in Lagos.
According to Osinbajo, the quality of facilities and personnel at the hospital affirms that Nigeria is richly endowed with talents.
“Today is one of those days that one gets extra proud for being a Nigerian.
“It is one of those days when your belief is affirmed that this is a country of world class talents, world class ideas, world class execution.
“So, we are here at the Duchess International Hospital, by both medical and aesthetic standards, comparable to the best hospitals in the world”.
The vice president said he concurred with the proprietors on their mission to reverse medical tourism ”by delivering the highest standards of them using the most advanced technology equipment to give the fastest, most convenient access to the best medical expertise available anywhere in the world”.
”And I concur; and I am sure you all concur”, Osinbajo said, while emphasising that there were good reasons to agree with the owners of the hospital who had serious bragging rights coming from the Reddington family –a clinical health brand that had earned a strong reputation for high standards in healthcare.
“Top notch international personnel and many highly reputed Nigerian doctors in the Diaspora and best of all, it’s all Nigerian.
“So, the opening of this state-of-the-art facility also celebrates some other facts.
“First, is that it has all that is takes to become the place of choice for even medical tourists from developed countries looking to jump long queues for specialised facility at home or simply shopping for more affordable fees for first class health care.
“Secondly, we have by far, the largest number of middle to low income communities and individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa who require affordable high quality health care.
“So, there is a sound business case here; in any event, this is the 15th facility of the Reddington Group”, Osinbajo said.
He added that if the business was not profitable, the proprietors would not venture into it, pointing out that such investments seeking high quality medical personnel, would positively impact on doctors.
Osinbajo, who also expected the various facilities in the hospital, noted that at Duchess International Hospital, a convergence of so many possibilities and great promise were being celebrated.
He said he was extremely proud to be a part of the phenomenal achievement and the great future it portends, not just for healthcare services in Nigeria, but also for the general business environment.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Dr Adeyemi Onabowale, Chairman, Reddington Hospital Group, said the project was a one-stop multi-specialty, multi-disciplinary facility, where the best hospital care would be delivered together with world class hospitality service.
In his remarks, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said that the apex bank would continue to support the growth of the economy as a healthy workforce was critical to building a robust economy.
There were also goodwill messages from Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State among others. (NAN)