Chijioke Iremeka
Physicians have said that establishing Very Important Personality clinics across teaching hospitals in the country will not make healthcare affordable and accessible for many Nigerians.
They, however, believe it may spur medical tourism within Nigeria and reduce the rate of medical treatment abroad among wealthy Nigerians and government functionaries in the long run.
The physicians pointed out that instead of addressing the issue of healthcare affordability for all, more resources that could be used in developing and making public hospitals accessible to the general public would be diverted to VIP clinics catering to the wealthy and powerful few.
They emphasised that since the VIP clinic in a teaching hospital is not targeted at the poor masses, ordinary citizens cannot afford its exclusive services and thus would not benefit from such high-level healthcare.
These professionals voiced their concerns against the backdrop of the government’s plan to construct a VIP clinic at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
According to the Chief Medical Director of the facility, Dr Steven Hwande, the Benue State University Teaching Hospital is preparing to establish a VIP Clinic to serve prominent individuals who require privacy.
He disclosed this during a press briefing held on July 17 to announce the upcoming 2024 International Investment Summit, a medical scientific exhibition featuring displays of medical equipment.
Hwande said, “Benue State University Teaching Hospital is set to open an International Investment Summit. The aim is to mimic what is happening everywhere, and part of it is to achieve medical tourism.
“We are having an exhibition from Thursday; that is a medical scientific exhibition on research and training. During this exhibition, people will come to display medical equipment. The hospital is also going to set up a VIP clinic.”
According to the International Trade Administration, Healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is still underdeveloped and lacks modern medical facilities. It further notes that payment for treatment and accessing healthcare facilities is largely out-of-pocket for most Nigerians,
The ITA notes that the non-mandatory nature of health insurance in Nigeria was a major impediment to increasing participation rates.
Despite these facts and several calls from stakeholders in the country, the 2024 fiscal year budgetary allocation for healthcare was 4.6 per cent, failing to meet the 15 per cent commitment specified in the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
Speaking on this development, physicians who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews said that the establishment of a VIP hospital is not in line with the type of healthcare they advocate for Nigerians.
They emphasised that healthcare should prioritise accessibility, affordability, and quality for all citizens, rather than catering primarily to the needs of wealthy individuals seeking exclusive and private healthcare services.
These physicians highlighted the importance of investing resources in public healthcare infrastructure that can benefit the broader population, rather than diverting them to facilities that serve only a privileged few.
The Chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Isaiah Abali, expressed that the VIP clinic is not intended for the common man, but rather targets those who can afford high-level care within and abroad.
Dr Isaiah Abali
Abali, who is also a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba, highlighted a similar setup at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba.
He said, “At a point, LUTH had the same arrangement to operate a VIP clinic equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed by trained personnel.”
Abali’s comments underscore a concern among medical professionals that VIP clinics may cater primarily to affluent patients, potentially diverting resources away from improving public healthcare infrastructure that could benefit a broader segment of the population.
“However, this is not the type of healthcare we advocate for in Nigeria. It is not intended for the common man. Its focus is on those who can afford high-level care. Therefore, by establishing it, you are not addressing the healthcare needs of the general population.
“Additionally, if the clinic is well-built and provided with services comparable to those available abroad, it has the potential to reduce medical tourism abroad to a significant extent and redirect the tourism to Nigeria.
“This is because its rates are likely to be more affordable than those offered outside the country. If the VIP clinic can provide comparable services at a lower cost, it may deter people who would otherwise travel abroad for similar medical services.
“We cannot eliminate the concept of a VIP clinic, but it will take time for people to build enough confidence in it to start using its services. Initially, people may hesitate and wait to see the outcomes before they begin to frequent the clinic.
“But even with all these improvements, some people will still prefer to seek medical care abroad, especially if they have other commitments or preferences overseas. Therefore, it cannot completely eliminate medical tourism, but it can certainly reduce its prevalence.
“So when they attract such individuals who are willing to pay, and word spreads about the clinic’s capabilities, more people will start utilising its services. This could generate revenue for the government and potentially promote medical tourism within Nigeria. It may cater specifically to government functionaries, aiming to reduce the amount of money spent abroad on medical expenses,” he said.
Speaking further, a Public Health Physician at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, Delta State, Dr Ovie Efekodo, said, “I don’t think having a VIP clinic in a Teaching Hospital is a new development. Many hospitals already have VIP wings.
“It is meant for people who avoid the bureaucratic processes of government settings. So, having a similar setup in Benue is not new, but it doesn’t impact the healthcare metrics of the common man because VIP services are more expensive compared to regular services.
“Some influential individuals in the country may prefer not to use public hospitals and opt for VIP wings instead. This could potentially redirect hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been spent abroad back into the country’s economy or local healthcare services.
“However, in the short term, it may not directly improve healthcare access for the common man, but on the other hand, it could have a multiplier effect on medical tourism within Nigeria in the long run.”
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