In a landmark initiative aimed at transforming healthcare delivery across Nigeria, NSIA Advanced Medical Services Limited (MedServe) has launched the first phase of an ambitious healthcare expansion program. The initiative will see the establishment of 23 diagnostic centres, three additional oncology centres, and seven catheterization laboratories across the country’s six geo-political zones.
Healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is characterized by a mix of public and private facilities, with significant disparities in quality and access between urban and rural areas. Only about 4% of Nigeria’s GDP is spent on healthcare, contributing to an underfunded public sector where 70% of healthcare costs are out-of-pocket expenses. Many public hospitals lack essential equipment, leading to an over-reliance on private healthcare for the 15% of the population who can afford it. Ongoing efforts aim to improve access, especially in specialized areas like diagnostics and oncology, but challenges remain in terms of coverage and quality.
This backdrop of challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure underscores the significance of MedServe’s recent expansion initiative, which aims to bridge gaps in access to quality diagnostic and oncology services across the country.
The groundbreaking ceremony for this first phase took place at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi State. The event was attended by prominent figures, including the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq; Managing Director of MedServe, Dr. Tolulope Adewole; Bauchi State Governor, His Excellency Senator Bala Mohammed; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Muhammed Pate, along with other senior government officials.
This phase of the project focuses on establishing diagnostic and oncology centers in 10 strategic locations: Bauchi, Enugu, Kaduna, Sokoto, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kwara, Plateau, and Yobe states. This expansion will significantly enhance access to critical healthcare services, addressing the gap in diagnostic and oncology care across these regions.
MedServe’s expansion is not just about infrastructure; it builds on the organization’s experience from successfully operating three flagship projects: the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC) in Lagos, the NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre (NKDC), and the NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre (NUDC) in Umuahia. These facilities, located within major teaching hospitals across Nigeria, have set the stage for this larger-scale rollout.
Speaking at the ceremony, NSIA’s Managing Director and CEO, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, highlighted the significance of this groundbreaking moment as the result of five years of hard work, resilience, and vision. He noted that the business model had been refined over the years in terms of governance, pricing, personnel training, and patient experience, making it possible to expand from one to three oncology centers and from two to 10 diagnostic centers. Umar-Sadiq committed to commissioning and operationalizing these centers within the next 12 to 15 months, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
The impact of this healthcare expansion program goes beyond financial returns for MedServe. It is expected to have substantial socio-economic benefits for Nigeria, including expanded access to improved screening and diagnostics for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Additionally, the initiative aims to reduce cancer-related mortality rates and create numerous employment opportunities within the oncology and diagnostics sectors.
Dr. Tolulope Adewole, Managing Director of MedServe, reiterated the company’s commitment to optimizing oncology care by establishing three additional oncology centers. He emphasized the importance of strategic collaborations with key stakeholders to enhance capacity and partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to improve patient outcomes. This focus on collaboration and quality underscores MedServe’s dedication to delivering world-class healthcare services in Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, praised NSIA’s vision for the healthcare sector and expressed confidence that the projects would be completed within the promised 12 to 15 months. He noted that this initiative sets a new benchmark for healthcare infrastructure investment in Nigeria, a sentiment echoed by Minister of Finance, Wale Edun. Edun commended the pace and efficiency with which MedServe has mobilized OEMs, service providers, technical partners, and other stakeholders to bring this healthcare expansion program to fruition.
MedServe’s healthcare expansion project represents a significant step forward in the effort to improve healthcare access and quality across Nigeria. By investing in critical medical infrastructure and human capital development, MedServe is poised to play a pivotal role in empowering Nigerians with better healthcare services, ultimately contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development.
