The Enugu State Government’s drive to reduce medical tourism and stem capital flight is nearing fruition, with the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital set for inauguration.
The Chief Executive Officer of the facility, Prof. Sam Agwu, disclosed this while speaking with journalists during an inspection of the hospital located along Rangers Avenue, Enugu.
Agwu said the hospital, an initiative of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, was designed to provide advanced medical services that Nigerians often seek abroad.
According to him, the facility is already equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and is expected to reduce the number of Nigerians travelling overseas for specialised treatment.
“Enugu International Hospital represents a translation of Governor Mbah’s vision into reality. He wants to reverse medical tourism,” Agwu said.
He expressed confidence that the hospital could reduce Nigeria’s medical capital flight by about 40 per cent within its first year of operation, while positioning Enugu as a destination for international patients.
The facility will house several specialised centres, including cancer, cardiac and vascular, renal, neuroscience and cardiorenal centres, offering advanced diagnostic and treatment services.
Agwu also disclosed that a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon from the United Kingdom is expected to serve as Chief Medical Officer, while also helping to train cardiac surgeons at the facility.
The hospital will equally provide nuclear medicine services, including Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning, with a cyclotron expected to produce radioactive materials required for advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment.
He explained that PET scanning would enable doctors to detect diseases at the cellular level, diagnose certain conditions before they become visibly apparent and monitor patients’ response to treatment.
Other advanced equipment already installed at the facility include CT scan, MRI and mammography machines, among others.
Agwu said the hospital would provide patients with specialised medical care delivered with dignity and compassion.
He expressed optimism that beyond reducing outbound medical travel, the facility could eventually attract patients from other countries who may find high-quality treatment in Enugu more affordable than in Europe and America.
The development is expected to strengthen Enugu’s healthcare sector while supporting the state government’s broader efforts to improve healthcare delivery, create specialised medical services and reposition the state as a regional healthcare hub.
