GMCE, AMCE Highlight Diaspora Collaboration to Curb Medical Tourism

Two of the nation’s major medical institutions
have jointly stressed the need for collaboration with Nigerian healthcare professionals and specialists in the diaspora to strengthen the country’s health system, reduce medical tourism and improve access to world-class specialist care.

The joint call came during a familiarisation visit by a delegation from the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Abuja, to the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence (GMCE), Abeokuta, Ogun State, where both institutions opened talks aimed at reversing the exodus of skilled health professionals, and significantly raising the current level of specialist healthcare delivery, research, diagnostics, training and referral services.

AMCE’s Director of Business Development, Mrs. Kehinde Oyesiku, said the institution has successfully attracted Nigerian medical professionals back from the United Kingdom (UK) and other countries as part of efforts to build local specialist capacity.

She stressed that quality healthcare depends not only on advanced equipment but also on skilled personnel.

According to her, AMCE currently employs over 50 expatriates from different countries while also recruiting experienced Nigerian specialists from the diaspora, including the centre’s chief nursing officer, who she said returned from the UK’s National Health Service after over two decades, alongside several other specialists.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Umar, said the visit formed part of the AFREXIM funded hospital’s strategy to build partnerships with leading healthcare institutions across Africa to improve patient outcomes and expand access to quality specialist care across Africa.

She explained that collaboration between the two institutions would strengthen specialist care, reduce diagnostic delays, promote research and training, and help address both medical tourism and the migration of healthcare workers.

On his part, the GMCE Hospital Administrator, Dr. Sunday Clement, said the 250-bed hospital was established to provide comprehensive, specialised and patient-centred healthcare comparable with international standards.

According to him, a world-class healthcare environment with advanced technology and the right workforce would significantly reduce medical tourism and encourage Nigerian healthcare professionals overseas to return home.

He disclosed that the hospital was investing in modern medical equipment while implementing measures to attract, reward and retain skilled healthcare professionals.

He described GMCE as a public-private partnership with Ogun State Government in collaboration with Pan African Capital Holdings Ltd, operational partner Synergy Health Solutions, and technical partner Healthshare Health Solutions.

The model, he stressed, is designed to serve all categories of Nigerians—not just the wealthy elite—while positioning Ogun State as a premier healthcare destination for patients across West Africa and beyond.

Meanwhile, the Group Executive Director, Finance, PAC Holdings, Mr Nentok Gomwalk, said the organisation invested in the project after recognising the enormous amount Nigerians spend annually on medical treatment abroad.

He noted that a significant proportion of foreign exchange requests had previously been linked to overseas medical treatment, describing it as evidence of the urgent need to develop world-class healthcare services within the country.

The meeting was witnessed by representatives of the Ogun State Government, including Mr. Olukogbe Abiodun, who stood in for the Director-General of the Ogun State Public-Private Partnership Office.

Also present were senior management teams from GMCE, AMCE, Healthshare Health Solutions, Viewpoint Health Services, and Pan African Capital Holdings.