By Isaac Mission
The Enugu International Hospital (EIH) is expected to play a major role in Governor Peter Mbah’s efforts to reduce the number of Nigerians travelling overseas for specialised medical treatment, the facility’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Sam Agwu, has said.
Agwu disclosed this while speaking with journalists during a tour of the 300-bed hospital on Rangers Avenue, Enugu, where advanced medical equipment has already been installed ahead of its inauguration.
He described the project as a practical expression of the governor’s vision to reverse medical tourism and retain money that Nigerians currently spend on healthcare outside the country.
Nigeria is estimated to lose between $1.2 billion and $2.39 billion annually through outbound medical tourism. A significant portion of the spending is linked to specialist areas such as cancer treatment, cardiology, kidney care and orthopaedic surgery.
According to Agwu, EIH was specifically developed to provide many of the sophisticated treatments Nigerians travel abroad to obtain.
He expressed optimism that the hospital could reduce outbound medical travel by about 40 per cent within its first year of operation, citing the quality of its equipment and the specialist services planned for the facility.
Agwu also said the hospital could eventually attract international patients, particularly from Europe and the United States, because treatment in Enugu could offer comparable standards of care at a lower cost.
The hospital will operate several specialised centres, including a cancer centre offering medical, surgical and radiological treatment.
There will also be a cardiac and vascular centre equipped to handle complex heart and vascular conditions, including open-heart procedures.
The EIH CEO disclosed that a highly experienced cardiothoracic surgeon from the United Kingdom is expected to serve as the facility’s chief medical officer. Beyond providing specialist care, the expert is expected to contribute to the training of cardiac surgeons in Nigeria.
Another major component of the hospital is its nuclear medicine service. Agwu said the facility would be equipped with advanced positron emission tomography (PET) technology and an on-site cyclotron for producing radioactive materials required for certain diagnostic and treatment procedures.
He explained that PET imaging can provide information at the cellular and molecular level, allowing doctors to identify some diseases earlier and monitor how patients respond to treatment.
The hospital will also have a neuroscience centre for conditions affecting the brain and nervous system, as well as a renal specialist centre. Agwu said the renal services would be integrated with cardiac care through a dedicated cardiorenal centre.
Several major pieces of equipment have already been installed across the facility, including CT scanners, MRI systems and mammography equipment.
Agwu assured prospective patients that the hospital’s focus would extend beyond technology and infrastructure, stressing that everyone who seeks care at the facility would be treated with dignity, compassion and a commitment to delivering the best possible medical care.
With its range of specialist services and advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment, the Enugu International Hospital is positioned to strengthen access to complex healthcare in Nigeria while supporting the state’s ambition to become a major medical tourism destination.