Abiodun Osibamowo, an experienced medical director and head of department of medicine at Reddington Multispecialist Hospital, sighed as he reviewed the chart.
A 74-year-old woman, who recently returned from the United States presented with a persistent headache. No history of hypertension. He explained to the relative anxiously waiting in the emergency room, that a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was necessary to get a thorough diagnosis before any treatment decisions.
Just hours later, Osibamowo received a frantic call from the patient’s son. They were transferring her to the US. He tried to reason with them, stressing the importance of the MRI, but they were adamant. Their minds were made up. They were taking her to the US, their faith in Nigerian healthcare wavering.
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Disheartened but undeterred, Osibamowo continued his rounds. The following day, the elderly woman was back. Her condition had worsened. The MRI revealed a subdural hematoma – blood accumulating in the layers of the brain. It was a serious, potentially life-threatening condition.
Even with the diagnosis in hand, the family still hesitated.
This time, Osibamowo pulled out all the stops. He patiently explained the procedure, the expertise available, and the success rates for such surgeries in Nigeria. He connected them with a neurosurgeon, who further clarified the process. He answered every question, addressing their fears and misconceptions.
He knew this wasn’t just about this one patient; it was about battling the pervasive distrust that plagued the system.
“I convinced them. I got a neurosurgeon. It was very easy. There was no complication. We drained the blood. And she was okay. They were thanking us because they didn’t know that it was something that we could do here. They came back for a follow-up and she was doing perfectly okay. No more headaches. So, it’s like many people don’t understand.
Many don’t believe such a complex procedure could be handled so efficiently and effectively in Nigeria.
It is a deep-seated mistrust that drives so many Nigerians to seek healthcare abroad, sometimes unnecessarily.
It was difficult to believe when Muhammad Ali Pate, health minister claimed foreigners were flocking to Nigeria for care.
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Nigeria possesses pockets of excellence, specialised units with highly skilled doctors, cutting-edge equipment (though often in short supply), and relatively affordable costs compared to the US or Europe.
For complex cases like the 74-year-old woman, these pockets of excellence could be a lifeline.
There are specialised centres that are gradually attracting patients from the diaspora for procedures such as laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, plastic or cosmetic surgery, interventional cardiology, minimally invasive surgeries, and organ transplants among others.
But they are like drops in the ocean as public discussions on healthcare in Nigeria always circle back to the fundamental issues: systemic inefficiencies, poor infrastructure, shortage of healthcare workers, poor patient experience, and a severe trust deficit.
The successes, though significant, are often overshadowed by the daily struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians often in government hospitals.
Many Nigerians still struggle with the dilapidated state of some primary healthcare centres, the distressing wait times for basic treatments, the constant struggle for essential drugs, and the lack of empathy of some healthcare workers.
Stories of patients being turned away due to lack of funds, of medical errors going unaddressed, of healthcare workers prioritising personal gain over patient care travel far, ingrained in the public consciousness.
They fuel the widespread distrust in the system that many Nigerians find difficult to believe in the system.
It also highlights the urgent need to rebuild trust, enhance communication, and education, and consistently demonstrate competence.
Faith Ekpekurede, group director-emergency medicine at Reddington said the overwhelming demand from health systems overseas is also driving delays that some patients cannot afford. They are increasingly resorting to efficient options in Nigeria, reversing medical tourism.
“We are having people coming from the US and the UK who are resident in those climes for their surgery here. The reason is because the list is so long on that side. For example, the UK system which has served us so well for decades is now in crisis,” Ekpekurede explained in an exclusive interview.
“Somebody who was told they would have to wait almost three years to get something done which is urgent came over here and got it done in a few months.”
A 2025 report on the future of health by ZS, a management consulting and technology firm shows that some developed countries saw declines in the percentages of consumers who say they feel cared for in 2023 and 2024.
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This drop was especially dramatic in the U.S. and U.K.
One of the reasons cited is that healthcare consumers want more time with their healthcare providers than they are getting.
In Germany, Japan, Brazil, and India, consumers spend as much time in their doctor’s waiting room as they do in the exam room.
The patient load for healthcare providers is higher than ever, with primary care physicians and internal medicine practitioners seeing over 100 patients more each week.
Modupe Elebute-Odunsin, CEO of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre at a forum organised by BusinessDay said more acknowledgment needs to be given to pockets of excellence recorded in the healthcare system to build public trust.
She believes the government also needs to encourage health investors with incentives that make the operating environment conducive.
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