Vice President Kashim Shettima has claimed that Nigeria is expecting a rise in reverse medical tourism, with patients from United States and other countries seeking kidney transplants in the country due to affordable and high quality medical expertise.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a visit by Nigerian Association of Nephrology ahead of its 37th Scientific Conference, Shettima cited the growing reputation of Nigerian hospitals for world-class kidney care.

“There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals.

“presently, 13 patients from the United States came to Nigeria for kidney transplants at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre because it is much cheaper here and they receive the same level of expertise available anywhere in the world”, he said.

The Vice President acknowledged the financial burden many patients face particularly high cost of post-transplant care and immunosuppressant drugs, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to invest in specialized healthcare education to strengthen its medical workforce.

-9News Nigeria.