… Ex-UK High Commissioner, Isola, Says Medical Tourism A Political Creation
Daud Olatunji
Experts and healthcare professionals have called for massive investment in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and the inclusion of faith-sensitive training in medical education to improve access and public confidence in the country’s health system.
The call was made on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Ogun State chapter, with the theme, “The Training of Muslim Healthcare Professionals: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.”
Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, who was a guest at the event, dismissed the concept of medical tourism as “a political invention,” arguing that it has been wrongly used to target public officials rather than address the country’s healthcare challenges.
“If you have an ailment and there is a reference to anywhere in the world, as long as you can afford it or people can raise money for you, I don’t see that as medical tourism,” Isola said.
“In those days, people came from Saudi Arabia to receive treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. Do you call that medical tourism? When you say medical tourism, people have politicised it.”
The former Minister of Mines and Steel Development said differences in medical expertise and technological advancement across countries make cross-border medical care inevitable.
“You must appreciate the fact that in terms of technological development, it varies from country to country,” he said.
“So, if you have to go abroad for what we don’t have the expertise or technology for in Nigeria, and you can afford it, I don’t see that as medical tourism. What you call medical tourism is virtually a political thing and non-existent.”
While insisting that Nigerians should not be criticised for seeking treatment abroad, Isola urged government officials to prioritise investment in the local healthcare sector to make the system more reliable.
“We live in an accountable society. When private sector players seek care abroad, nobody talks. It only becomes an issue when public officials do the same.
The focus should be on strengthening our healthcare system so that Nigerians can have confidence in local facilities,” he added.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Ibrahim Uthman of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, noted that the healthcare needs of Muslims in Nigeria remain complex and multifaceted, requiring educational and institutional reforms that honour Islamic values.
He identified stigmatisation, Islamophobia, and a lack of competent Muslim healthcare experts as some of the barriers hindering access to quality medical services within Muslim communities.
“Solving the healthcare needs of Muslims calls for building bridges to facilitate a holistic education on Islamic viewpoints and the adoption of modern technologies in the healthcare system,” Uthman said.
“Partnerships with mosques, Muslim organisations, and communities are essential for achieving better healthcare outcomes.”
The professor added that medical training in Nigeria should integrate faith-sensitive approaches to equip healthcare workers with the awareness and empathy required to accommodate patients’ religious beliefs.
Also speaking, the Ogun State IMAN Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Opeewe, said the association remains committed to the welfare of its members and the expansion of community health services.
He disclosed that the association organised free medical outreach during the AGM, which included eye and dental screening, free eyeglasses, and medication for residents of the state.
“IMAN is ready to partner with individuals, institutions, and organisations to enhance access to quality healthcare in Ogun State,” Opeewe said.
The event brought together Islamic medical practitioners, scholars, and community leaders, all of whom emphasised the need for compassion-driven, technologically advanced, and culturally sensitive healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
They urged government at all levels to prioritise funding for medical research, healthcare worker training, and infrastructure development to stem the tide of citizens seeking medical care abroad.
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