Lagos Working Towards Reducng Brain Drain In Health Sector

Professor Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, has revealed that the state is establishing specialist hospitals to reduce medical tourism and brain drain in the health sector.

Abayomi made this known during the Doctors for Change (DFC) conference on Saturday in Lagos.

He said the state identified trust and lack of medical specialties, as factors driving Nigerians overseas for medical care, adding that the trend would be reversed to make the state a medical tourist destination.

“We have many general hospitals but what we lack are specialist facilities and you can get specialist care both in the government and private hospitals.

“What we are trying to do is that we are building more specialist hospitals.

“We have the Massey Children Specialist Hospital, Infectious Disease Research Institute, the largest psychiatric hospital in Africa at Ketu-Ejirin, Epe, the Omotunde Ajoke Cole Hospital, Island.

“We are trying to create a diversification of medical care, so if you need a kidney transplant, heart surgery, the highest level of infectious diseases, rehabilitation centres, you can get it here,” Abayomi said.

He revealed that the government would continue to invest in human resources, and set standards and the right policies to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services.

The commissioner said the state was embarking on a digital footprint that would connect all health facilities, to holistic and collective data on the health-seeking behaviour of Lagosians.

 Abayomi also disclosed that the state wants to partner with the DFC on how the private sector could assist in achieving its strategic goals.

“Lagos needs to be an international destination for cutting-edge medical service delivery, innovation and research for the betterment of its people,” he said.