Medical Tourism: When the Rich Fly Abroad To Survive

By Maxwell Guma
A Nigerian in urgent need of medical attention should not have to worry about whether their bank account is large enough to keep them alive. Yet for many citizens, access to quality healthcare depends not only on the severity of their illness but also on their ability to afford treatment.
For the wealthy, travelling abroad for specialised medical care may be an option. For millions of ordinary Nigerians, poorly equipped public hospitals, inadequate professional care and limited access to essential medical services may be their only hope.
This is the uncomfortable inequality at the heart of Nigeria’s healthcare crisis: while some people can seek treatment beyond inter...