The African Export-Import Bank has revealed that Nigeria loses an estimated $1.1bn annually to medical tourism, a trend it described as a significant drain on the country’s foreign exchange and a major impediment to the development of its healthcare sector.

Speaking during the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings held in Abuja on Thursday, the Bank’s Export Development Managing Director, Oluranti Doherty, said the continued reliance on foreign medical care was not only stalling investment in local health infrastructure but also affecting the broader economy.

She also highlighted the ongoing loss of skilled healthcare workers to foreign countries, further compounding the challenges facing the local medical industry.

Doherty, however, stressed the need for Nigeria and other African countries to rebuild trust in domestic healthcare systems, calling for policies that ensure quality care is accessible locally to reverse the tide of medical tourism.

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