Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has acknowledged significant gaps in the state’s healthcare infrastructure, revealing a deficit of approximately 66,288 hospital beds. Speaking at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Healthcare and Medical Expo, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for improvements to meet the healthcare needs of the state’s 24 million residents.
Current Healthcare Capacity
Lagos currently has 28 general hospitals with a total capacity of only 3,717 beds. Combining this with 34,995 beds in the private sector brings the total to 38,712 beds, far below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended standard of five beds per 1,000 people. According to the governor, Lagos would need 25 times its current capacity to adequately serve its population, necessitating at least 66 additional general hospitals.
Innovative Funding Solutions
Sanwo-Olu highlighted that the government lacks sufficient resources to close this gap and emphasized the need for innovative funding mechanisms that engage the private sector. He plans to establish high-quality health facilities while encouraging private sector investment to replicate these standards across Lagos.
Goals for Healthcare Improvement
The governor expressed his commitment to restoring the healthcare sector’s relevance in the economy and making it an attractive environment for investors. He believes this approach will help reverse brain drain, boost local talent, and reduce outbound medical tourism, which often sees patients leaving Lagos for specialized treatments in orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, and neurology.
In 2022, 12.5 million individuals accessed care at registered health facilities in Lagos, with 60% using public health services. Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance of addressing the gaps in specialties that lead citizens to seek care abroad.
Calls for Policy Implementation
Prof. Bala Audu, the NMA President, urged the government to implement existing health policies, particularly the National Policy on Health Workforce Retention, to enhance the retention rates of healthcare professionals. He also emphasized the need for improved equipment and resources at healthcare facilities to lower out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the expo, showcased the capabilities of local hospitals, stressing that many well-established facilities in Nigeria can manage complex medical cases, including kidney transplants and cardiovascular surgeries.
The overarching goal is to improve healthcare delivery within Lagos, making it a leading destination for medical tourism in Africa while ensuring that citizens receive the quality care they need locally.