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A representative of IBT Group, promoters of the hospital project, Mr. Daniel Toledano, said on Tuesday in Abuja after making a presentation on the project to Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, that the hospital, which will be the first of its kind in Africa, would make Nigeria a medical tourists centre in Africa in terms of capacity and personnel to cater for, at least, 2 million patients at a time.
He said that the IBT Group, which will handle the project alongside Sumolex and KMD Architects, has over 35 years experience in turnkey projects in 21 countries across the globe.
While Nigeria loses over US$500 million yearly to medical tourism abroad, he said that capital plight per patient ranged between US$20,000 and US$40,000 per trip.
“The objectives of the project include provision of the first level three medical care facility in Nigeria and to relocate high-complexity medical care to Abuja Medical City,” he said.
The proposed 1,687-bed hospital, the minister said, would include 763 beds for a trauma centre, 300 beds for amenities care pavilion; 524 beds for a pediatric section and 100 beds for a physiotherapy and rehabilitation section.
In his remarks, the spokesman for IBT Group of Companies, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, said that the Abuja Medical City, which will become operational six months to its completion date, would cost US$650 million.
Defining the operational model for the proposed hospital, Dr. Isioma Okobah, a Nigerian medical doctor based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America, said, “We can attract our doctors in the Diaspora back home and there won’t be need for medical tourism abroad because they will provide the same services here and get the same pay they are getting now.”
Responding, the minister said that the proposal was in line with the plan of the Federal Government towards checking medical tourism abroad and providing world class healthcare services for Nigerians.
The project is expected to be completed between 24 and 36 months
source: http://www.en.starafrica.com / Star Africa.com / Home> Africa / posted by APA / February 13th, 2013
