Healthcare May Become Fastest Growing Sector in Nigerian Economy – Osinbajo

Investments in top medical care and the overall healthcare
sector in Nigeria is set to birth one of “the fastest growth areas
in a resurgent Nigerian economy”, according to Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof Osinbajo stated this today during his virtual remarks at the
official unveiling of the Evercare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos.

Evercare Hospital, part of the Evercare Group, operates as an
integrated healthcare delivery platform in emerging markets across
Africa and South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya
and Nigeria. The international group has set aside a $1billion
healthcare fund.

“The business case for more top quality medical care in Nigeria
has always seemed quite obvious, but I think the fact that the
Evercare Health Fund, (a US$ 1 billion emerging markets healthcare
fund) has chosen to invest in healthcare in Nigeria, clearly
confirms even to the greatest skeptics that we are seeing the birth
of what may well become one of the fastest growth areas in a
resurgent Nigerian economy,” Prof. Osinbajo submitted.

Speaking on the importance of having such a medical institution
in Nigeria, the Vice President observed that “we must reverse the
trend of outbound medical tourism” and there is the need to
“attract, not just medical tourists from our neighbors in the
region, but also become the place of choice for even developed
countries’ medical tourists looking to jump long queues for
specialized procedures at home.”

He also emphasized that the emergence of the Evercare Hospital
would bring about a U-turn in the brain drain of medical personnel
trained in Nigeria who are engaged in hospitals abroad because of
better remuneration and better facilities.

Noting the peculiarity of the situation in Nigeria in terms of
accessibility to healthcare, Prof Osinbajo pointed out that “we
have by far the largest number of middle-to-low income communities
and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa who require affordable, high
quality healthcare.”

The Vice President expressed his optimism and excitement in the
facility with “first-of-its-kind-purpose-built, 165-bed
state-of-the-art international private hospital, that offers an
extensive range of specialty medical and surgical services.” He
also expressed his pleasure at the fact that “in addition to its
local world class personnel, the hospital will leverage technology
to consult with international specialists across the 29 hospitals
and 16 clinics currently in its portfolio.”

According to the Vice President “we are certainly set for
exciting times in the Nigerian healthcare story.”

In his own remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide
Sanwo-olu, commended the management of the hospital for their
collaboration with citizens of Lagos, local and foreign investors
in building a first-class edifice catering to the people.

Others present at the event were the Lagos State Commissioner
for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Commissioner for Economic Planning
and Budgeting, Mr. Samuel Egube, Chairman of Evercare Hospital, Mr.
Tosin Runsewe; Chief Executive Officer of Evercare Hospital, Mr.
Rajeev Bhandari; Chief Medical Officer of Evercare Hospital, Dr.
Ayo Shonibare and other dignitaries.

Investments in top medical care and the overall healthcare
sector in Nigeria is set to birth one of “the fastest growth areas
in a resurgent Nigerian economy”, according to Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof Osinbajo stated this today during his virtual remarks at the
official unveiling of the Evercare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos.

Evercare Hospital, part of the Evercare Group, operates as an
integrated healthcare delivery platform in emerging markets across
Africa and South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya
and Nigeria. The international group has set aside a $1billion
healthcare fund.

“The business case for more top quality medical care in Nigeria
has always seemed quite obvious, but I think the fact that the
Evercare Health Fund, (a US$ 1 billion emerging markets healthcare
fund) has chosen to invest in healthcare in Nigeria, clearly
confirms even to the greatest skeptics that we are seeing the birth
of what may well become one of the fastest growth areas in a
resurgent Nigerian economy,” Prof. Osinbajo submitted.

Speaking on the importance of having such a medical institution
in Nigeria, the Vice President observed that “we must reverse the
trend of outbound medical tourism” and there is the need to
“attract, not just medical tourists from our neighbors in the
region, but also become the place of choice for even developed
countries’ medical tourists looking to jump long queues for
specialized procedures at home.”

He also emphasized that the emergence of the Evercare Hospital
would bring about a U-turn in the brain drain of medical personnel
trained in Nigeria who are engaged in hospitals abroad because of
better remuneration and better facilities.

Noting the peculiarity of the situation in Nigeria in terms of
accessibility to healthcare, Prof Osinbajo pointed out that “we
have by far the largest number of middle-to-low income communities
and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa who require affordable, high
quality healthcare.”

The Vice President expressed his optimism and excitement in the
facility with “first-of-its-kind-purpose-built, 165-bed
state-of-the-art international private hospital, that offers an
extensive range of specialty medical and surgical services.” He
also expressed his pleasure at the fact that “in addition to its
local world class personnel, the hospital will leverage technology
to consult with international specialists across the 29 hospitals
and 16 clinics currently in its portfolio.”

According to the Vice President “we are certainly set for
exciting times in the Nigerian healthcare story.”

In his own remarks, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide
Sanwo-olu, commended the management of the hospital for their
collaboration with citizens of Lagos, local and foreign investors
in building a first-class edifice catering to the people.

Others present at the event were the Lagos State Commissioner
for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Commissioner for Economic Planning
and Budgeting, Mr. Samuel Egube, Chairman of Evercare Hospital, Mr.
Tosin Runsewe; Chief Executive Officer of Evercare Hospital, Mr.
Rajeev Bhandari; Chief Medical Officer of Evercare Hospital, Dr.
Ayo Shonibare and other dignitaries.