Africa’s $10 Billion Annual Medical Tourism Drain: Nigeria Alone Accounts for $2 Billion

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The National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Bala Mohammed Audu, disclosed that Africa loses approximately $10 billion every year to outbound medical tourism, with Nigeria alone accounting for about $2 billion of that annual loss.

He made this disclosure during the association’s Healthcare and Medical Expo in Abuja on November 5. The event was themed “Reversing Medical Tourism: Africans Investing in Africa.”

Prof. Audu noted a damaging cycle: developed countries recruit doctors trained in Nigeria. At the same time, Nigeria’s own political elites travel to those same countries for high-end medical treatments that are often available locally. He argued that this travel is frequently due to a lack of awareness and asserted that the services available in Nigeria might even be superior to those sought abroad.

He said, “The theme of this year’s Expo, Reversing Medical Tourism: Africans Investing in Africa, is timely and deeply relevant. Every year, Africa loses billions of dollars to medical tourism. This outflow of capital weakens our economies and undermines confidence in our own healthcare systems. Yet, within this challenge lies the opportunity to harness the skill, knowledge, and resilience of African professionals to create world-class medical services here at home.

“The knowledge, quality, and expertise that Nigeria-trained doctors carry to other countries were obtained in Nigeria, and they perform excellently, but many Nigerians do not even know that these services are available here in Nigeria. So many Nigerians leave Nigeria to go to other countries like the U.S., the U.K., India, and so on, to look for care—care that is very much available at their own doorstep.”

Audu stated it has become necessary to raise awareness that many “great things are going on in high-end medicine in Nigeria.”

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“We know that people in other countries are looking for these services.” They can actually come to Nigeria and get these services. We will not only reduce the number of Nigerians travelling to other countries for these services, but we will also attract foreign nationals to come to Nigeria to access them. Once we make our services competitive, if patients go abroad and their doctors there refer them back to Nigeria, they will realise that they no longer need to travel overseas for care.

The NMA President noted that achieving this global standard of service requires investment, an enabling environment, and improved health financing. He said that most Nigerians seeking care abroad use high-end private institutions, not public ones, emphasising that the “economy of scale of health industrialisation lies in the private sector.”

He called on high-end investors to enter the health sector, projecting $5 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria over the next five years. Audu expressed the NMA’s commitment to driving initiatives for quality healthcare, professional excellence, and sustainable investment.

He noted that through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation, Africa can become a destination for quality healthcare, “not an exporter of patients and doctors alike.”

In his keynote address, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe, the Conference Chairman and Chancellor of Ekiti State University, argued that Nigeria is already an inbound medical tourism destination. He stressed that while many lament the outbound flights, a smaller, “relatively unimpressive” number of patients are actively flying into the country for care.

He said, “From Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and across West and Central Africa, they come to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for kidney transplants. Diaspora Nigerians from London, Houston, and Toronto return to The Bridge Clinic and Nordica Fertility Centre for IVF — by choice, because of 60–80% cost savings, cultural affinity, and world-class expertise. Cedarcrest Hospital in Kaduna, a JCI-accredited facility, attracts corporate clients and medical tourists seeking trauma and neurosurgery at international standards.

“Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja, with its robotic surgery suite, attracts patients from the Sahel who would otherwise fly to Turkey. Beyond the established success stories of major public hospitals, this narrative of Africans investing in Africa is robustly confirmed by our private sector leaders and pioneers.”

Olowolafe noted that the “brain drain”, while damaging, also verifies the quality of Nigeria’s educational system, as its medical practitioners are respected globally. This, he argued, makes it compelling to invest more in education and infrastructure to retain that talent. He also emphasised the need for local production of medicines to reduce reliance on imports.

“When we speak of Africans investing in Africa, we are not just referring to financial capital. We are talking about intellectual capital, leadership capital, and trust capital. We cannot reverse medical tourism without investing in knowledge production, research, faculty development, and medical education that equip our doctors to compete globally while remaining locally relevant.

“We must make Africa not just a market for medical solutions but a maker of medical breakthroughs. That is why collaborations between universities, medical associations, and private sector investors are so essential. Together, we can build pipelines of talent, research, and innovation that keep our brightest minds here, not just physically, but intellectually and emotionally committed to Africa’s future,” he added.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, called the theme “particularly significant” given the huge capital flight. Salako observed that the amount spent on medical tourism is equivalent to more than 30% of the country’s annual budget, which drains the economy, pressures foreign exchange, and erodes public confidence.

He pointed out that Nigerians travel out mainly for oncology, orthopaedics, nephrology, and cardiology. He added that the government has strategically identified oncology care as a key starting point for investment, as data show it accounts for approximately 40% of medical tourism.

Salako, who spoke on the ongoing strike by resident doctors, appealed to NARD to call off the strike and assured that the 19-point demands are being addressed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) And Answers 

How much money does Nigeria lose to medical tourism?

Nigeria loses approximately $2 billion every year to outbound medical tourism. This represents a significant portion of the $10 billion annual loss for the entire African continent.

What was the main goal of the NMA Healthcare and Medical Expo?

The main goal, based on the theme “Reversing Medical Tourism”, was to draw attention to the importance of investment in Nigeria’s healthcare system. The NMA aims to build a sector so competitive that it not only stops Nigerians from travelling abroad for care but also attracts foreign nationals to Nigeria for treatment.

Why do Nigerian elites travel abroad for healthcare?

According to NMA President Prof. Bala Audu, the loss is often due to a lack of awareness that high-quality, high-end medical services are available within Nigeria. He asserted that these local services are sometimes “even probably better” than those sought abroad.

Is anyone coming into Nigeria for medical care?

Yes. Dr. Tunji Olowolafe pointed out that Nigeria is already an inbound medical tourism destination, though the numbers are small. He cited examples of patients from other African countries (Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) coming for kidney transplants and Diaspora Nigerians returning for IVF treatments due to cost savings and cultural affinity.

What healthcare areas are a priority for the government to reduce medical tourism?

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, identified oncology (cancer) care as the government’s strategic starting point. This is because data shows that oncology treatment accounts for about 40% of Nigerians who travel abroad for medical reasons. Other key areas include orthopaedics, nephrology, and cardiology.