By Khalid Idris Doya
No fewer than 23 diagnostic centres, three additional and seven catherization laboratories would be established across the six geopolitical zones by the federal government in its renewed hope to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The project, which is coming under the supervision of MedServe, National Sovereign Investment Authority’s wholly-owned HealthCare Company, is aimed at Enhancing healthcare outcomes.
The ground breaking ceremony for the first phase of the MedServe healthcare expansion project which was held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi State was attended by the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq.
It was also graced by MD MedServe, Dr Tolulope Adewole alongside the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun; and the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof Ali Muhammed Pate as well as other senior government officials.
“The first phase of the healthcare expansion project aims to establish diagnostics and oncology centers in 10 locations including Bauchi, Enugu, Kaduna, Sokoto, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Kwara, Plateau and Yobe states respectively”.
“The expansion project will leverage MedServe’s experience gained from successfully operating three demonstration projects namely: NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC), NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre (NKDC), NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre ( NUDC) located within the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia respectively.
While speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive, NSIA Aminu Umar-Sadiq, described the groundbreaking as the culmination of five years of resilience and hard work, underpinned by a vision to birth what was once deemed impossible.
“Over the ensuing five years, we have perfected the business model in terms of governance structure, pricing, recruitment and training of key personnel, and the patient experience”.
“It is against this backdrop that MedServe is expanding from one to three oncology centres and 2 to 10 diagnostic centres. We have anchored this in Bauchi State, which will be one of the 10 centres in phase one of the healthcare expansion project”.
“We commit to commissioning and operationalizing these centres within 12 to 15 months,” Umar-Sadiq said.
“Aside from the envisaged financial returns to MedServe, the healthcare expansion programme will deliver substantial socio-economic impact within Nigeria through expanded access to improved screening and diagnostics for communicable and non-communicable diseases”.
According to him, the programme would reduce cancer-related mortality rates and considerable employment opportunities for key personnel within the oncology and diagnostics value chain in Nigeria.
The Managing Director of MedServe, Dr Tolulope Adewole at the ceremony re-affirmed MedServe’s commitment to optimize oncology care by the creation of three additional oncology centres, strategic collaboration with key stakeholders to deepen capacity and partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers to improve patient outcomes.
The Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate lauded NSIA’s vision for the healthcare sector and stated that the projects will be completed within 12 to 15 months, setting a new precedent for healthcare infrastructure investments in Nigeria.
“About 12 months from now, the centres will be ready to deliver qualitative service across Nigeria. This is the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria,” Pate said.
Also commenting at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Minister of Finance Wale Edun said, “I have been impressed by the pace with which MedServe, has mobilized original equipment manufacturers, service providers, technical partners and other stakeholders to actualize the healthcare expansion programme.”
MedServe remains dedicated to empowering Nigerians by improving healthcare access through strategic medical infrastructure investments and human capital development.
