Surgeon wants Nigerians to stop medical tourism

Dr Douglas Okor, a Consultant Neurosurgeon, Spine Fixed in Abuja (SFIA), has called on Nigerians to trust local surgeons as they are capable of conducting complex surgeries done outside the country.

Okor made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, 70 to 75 per cent cases of brain surgery can be done in the country.

He said that lack of trust within the public health system, competence, skills and knowledge had made many to seek medical help in other countries.

Okor said Nigerian doctors formerly based in the Diaspora were back to transfer their knowledge in daily medical practice and to boost the healthcare sector in the country.

“One of the significant brain and spinal surgery can definitely be done in the country; going out of the country for medical surgery could be expensive compared to undergoing it here.

“Hotel accommodation, accompany doctors if the patient is in a critical stage, getting a visa, feeding and many others could add up to the expenses if one seeks medical help outside the country,’’ he said.

Okor said 70 per cent to 75 per cent cases of brain surgery can be done in the country especially in the economic recession.

He said trauma, accidents or heavy fall could cause internal or external injuries to the brain, saying some have a bleed in the brain or inflammation of the brain from bruising.

Okor said there are some tumours that are not cancerous and infections in the brain that could warrant brain surgery.

“There are some surgeries that should be done within few hours otherwise the patient could die. Such surgeries cannot be done abroad,’’ said the surgeon.

However, the medical expert said communication, cooperation and collaboration between the public and private sectors would boost the healthcare delivery in the country.