LAGOS – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to advanced healthcare services in Nigeria and reversing outbound medical tourism, as Redeemer’s Health Village, RHV, launched its robotic surgery programme in Lagos.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said that robotic surgery aligns with the Federal Government’s health transformation agenda, particularly its focus on improving health outcomes and unlocking the healthcare value chain.
Speaking at the launch dinner, Dr. Salako said the programme represents the kind of private-sector investment and technological advancement needed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to provide world-class specialised care locally.
“The best in the world are now converging here, and I urge all of us to patronise when the need arises,” he said. “With the new capacity, a farmer from Ondo, a teacher from Ekiti, a trader from Ogun or any part of Nigeria will no longer need a passport to access world-class surgical intervention.”
The Minister noted that the government recognises the critical role of the private sector, which delivers more than half of healthcare services in the country, and would continue to create an enabling environment for investment in high-end medical services.
He said initiatives including the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, PVAC, and the Presidential Executive Order on the Health Sector were designed to strengthen domestic capacity, stimulate investment and support a more resilient health system.
According to him, the robotic surgery programme is anchored on a partnership between RHV and RoboMed Global Inc. of the United States, a Nigerian diaspora-led enterprise, with an investment of about $4 million.
Dr. Salako added that the initiative reflects the administration’s policy direction to attract diaspora expertise and capital into the domestic health sector, including through the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative and the Diaspora Advance Health Programme Portal.
He also disclosed that the programme includes a structured training and certification pathway for interested surgeons across the country, describing it as an opportunity to update the clinical skills of Nigerian surgeons in line with emerging medical technology.
The Minister commended the leadership of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr. Ademola Dada, Professor Ekwenna and other partners for establishing the programme.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working with the private sector, diaspora professionals and other partners to build a health system anchored on equity, affordability and the capacity to meet the healthcare needs of Nigerians within the country.
FG Backs Robotic Surgery, Diaspora Partnerships To Reverse Medical Tourism
