| dc.description.abstract | Nigeria continues to lose significant foreign exchange (FX) through medical tourism — the practice of Nigerians seeking healthcare abroad due to weaknesses in the domestic health system. Recent analysis of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) quarterly statistical bulletin shows that in the first nine months of 2025, foreign exchange outflows for health travel hit approximately US $549.29 million, up nearly 18 % from the same period in 2024, underscoring growing reliance on foreign healthcare.
The Nigerian government in a bid to improve the health sector has constantly increased the budgetary allocation to the health sector from recorded N1.3 trillion in 2024 to N2.3 trillion in 2025 and N 2.48 trillion in 2026. Also the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), aim to strengthen primary healthcare, improve financial protection, and boost local manufacturing. Key focus areas include doubling functional Primary Healthcare (PHCs) to 17,618 by 2027, activating the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0), and digitizing records. Despite all these effort, Nigeria health sector continues to witness deep challenges which in turn result in oversea health tourism which affects the FX.
This Brief hereby recommends that the National Assembly through its Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Primary), Senate and House Committees on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases, and Senate, House Committees on Employment, Labour and Productivity and Senate and House Committees on Appropriation, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders like the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM):
Convene a public dialogue on the need to curb oversea health tourism, curb the menace of brain drain in the health sector and provide actionable pathway to improve the Nigeria health sector.
Strengthen regulatory framework to enhance clinical governance, enforce standards, and implement systems for patient safety and accountability in Nigeria health sector.
Encourage the full implementation of the National Health Act (2014) to guarantee improved funding for the healthcare sector. Support the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on the need to expand high-end diagnostic and treatment centres with capacity for cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery and other complex specialties in Nigeria.
Support and improve health workers remuneration, working conditions, and continuing educational opportunities to reduce brain drain inherent in the Nigerian health sector.
While recent figures highlight a significant rise in FX usage for overseas health travel in 2025, underlying fears about domestic care quality and safety persist. Addressing these challenges demands bold policy action, strategic financing, workforce development, and systemic reform to restore confidence in local healthcare delivery and stem the drain on Nigeria’s foreign exchange | en_US |
