Lagos: The trend of African elites seeking medical treatment abroad has reignited discussions about the state of health care investment within the continent. Many African leaders have consistently opted for foreign medical facilities, highlighting the need for improved health care infrastructure and systems in their own countries. This decision is often scrutinized, considering the leaders’ responsibilities to develop robust health care systems for their citizens.
According to Deutsche Welle, the passing of former leaders Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and Edgar Lungu of Zambia in foreign medical facilities has intensified accusations of neglect towards domestic public health systems. Jamila Atiku, a public health researcher in Nigeria, expressed concerns over infrastructure, pointing out the lack of drugs and functional medical equipment as significant issues. She noted that over 32 out of 54 African countries do not allocate sufficient budgets to health care, relying heavily on donor aid.
Mashoko, a health rights advocate, emphasized that foreign funding is more about diplomacy than addressing Africa’s health challenges. Despite receiving over $60 billion in health funding, the continent’s needs are far greater. The 2001 Abuja Declaration saw AU member states pledge to allocate 15% of their annual budgets to health care, but only Rwanda, Botswana, and Cape Verde have met this target consistently.
The World Health Organization reported that more than 30 AU member states allocate less than 10% of their budgets to health care, with some allocating as little as 5-7%. Atiku highlighted that Nigeria’s health budget fluctuates between 4-6%, with politicians prioritizing other infrastructure projects. The result is frequent strikes by underpaid doctors and health care professionals, contributing to poorly run health systems.
A lack of specialized treatment and facilities drives many African patients abroad for medical care in fields like oncology, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, and organ transplants. Annually, over 300,000 Africans travel to India for such services, spending more than $2 billion. India, benefiting from this medical tourism, is projected to generate $13 billion by 2026 under the “Heal in India” initiative.
The African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure reported that Nigerians alone spend $1 billion annually on medical tourism, with 60% going towards oncology, orthopedics, nephrology, and cardiology. An estimated 5,000 Nigerians travel abroad monthly for medical treatment, with India being a popular destination.
Efforts to improve local health care include plans to enhance funding and infrastructure. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated that by 2027, they aim to have 17,000 functional primary health care facilities. Health rights advocate Chamunorwa Mashoko urged communities to come together to create effective health care systems rather than relying solely on politicians.
Afreximbank introduced a support facility in 2016 to build specialized health facilities across Africa, aiming to reduce medical tourism. While no health system is perfect, there is a consensus that African countries must continue implementing solutions to address their health care challenges.