As 2018 progresses, expect more of the same, not less. Fact is there is not a single medical centre, well-staffed with world-class medical experts and well-equipped, designed specifically to stem the tide of citizens seeking medical attention overseas, that is under construction anywhere in Africa. The one exception to this sad picture is South Africa. Even here most of the “excellent” facilities are_ a legacy of the apartheid era, erected to cater to the needs of the affluent white minority. Morgan Tsangarai, the Zimbabwean opposition leader, who died of cancer recently, was being treated in one of these hospitals – after several trips to Britain.
In Nigeria, when a highly- respected political leader or ex-head of the state becomes seriously ill, the clamour, understandably, from even the public is for him to be flown aboard for “proper” medical attention. The most recent example is Alex Ekwueme.
And last year, considerable media criticism was generated by reports of several African heads of state shuttling aboard for very expensive medical treatment. Two of these African heads of state have since resigned or retired, but there is no let-up in visits overseas.
SURGE IN MEDICAL TOURISM OVERSEAS: AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AND POLITICIANS
Robert Mugabe’s retirement package reliably includes generous provisions for visits to Singapore his preferred medical destination. Angolan’s Eduardo Dos Santos is technically still half in power, controlling both the ruling party and organs of state security. For health attention, he still prefers Europe.
As the critics stressed last year, most of these African leaders, from Algeria’s Bouteflika to Angola’s Dos Santos, could, at the stroke of a pen, have erected state of the art hospitals in their countries.
So why have they not done that? The answer is complex including ethnic, religious and political divisions. Translation- they would not feel safe in any such hospital.
Nigeria’s Mohammadu Buhari could claim, and rightly so, that he needed urgent medical attention soon after taking power and therefore had no time to establish a world-class hospital.
But that would not be the whole story. With the strong tribal and religious cleavages in the country and the prevailing zero-sum mentality, he would have had to establish at least three first-class hospitals, not one – and still not have solved the main issue.
A person must trust the hospital to which he is referred. Problem is how would the hospitals be staffed? How do you deal with the headache of state representation? There are 36 states in the federation. Therefore, to be quite safe, you would need 36 consultants in each medical specialization – one from each state – in the three hospitals. Obviously such complicated issues would take time to resolve, particularly if the price of oil suddenly takes a tumble on the world market or the Nigeria Delta Militants blow up a pipeline and oil revenue takes a hit.
As for Robert Mugabe, Air Zimbabwe takes him to Singapore in style. His spokesmen argued that the expert he consults is of African des.
Besides, Mugabe’s health is a tribute to Singaporean medicine. A spritely 93years old, Mugabe remained perky and lucid of mind as was only recently ousted from power.
Bouteflika of Algeria had a stroke more than a decade ago. He runs the country from a wheel chair, punctuated by periodic visits to France.
If oil-rich, nationalistic, Algerians cannot persuade him to build a world-class hospital; the fault is with the people and not Bouteflika.
It is difficult to find an excuse for Dos Santos of Angola. His successor, Joao Lourenco has his next task well-cut-out
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In terms of choice of destination, the pattern remains the same.
Most government-sponsored officials and high net- worth individuals head for the UK or USA. The rest flock to India because of lower costs. Last year, medical tourism of was worth over $3billion dollars to India’s GDP. This year the estimate is higher.