Kolawole Emmanuel, Kano
The Muhammaadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, in Kano, has been upgraded with world class faculties with the aim to facilitate an end to medical tourism in Northern Nigeria.
Chairman Governing Board of Kano Ultra Modern Specialist Hospital (KUSH), Dr. Aminu Garba Magashi, said the Muhammaadu Buhari Specialist Hospital could compete favourably with foreign hospitals in terms of modern equipment put in place in the hospital.
Magashi, who disclosed this, on Thursday, in Kano State, while speaking with health journalists at the Muhammadu Buharia Specialist Hospital, Giginyu Kano.
He added that the two hospitals, MBSH and the Sheikh Isiyaku Rabiu Pediatrics Hospital sited on Zoo Road, had recently been further equipped with medical equipment that comply with global standard.
He noted that KUSH has set out the motive to end medical tourism by Nigerians, specifically from those from Kano, the Northern parts of the country to foreign lands in search of best medical attentions.
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He further disclosed that the motive to end medical tourism would be attained by the hospitals through the provision of cheap medical services that are equal to those that could be accessed in foreign countries.
He said that the management of the hospitals aims to also address the menace of brain drain in the medical sector in Northern Nigeria.
The hospitals, he said, now enjoy the services of over 100 medical Consultants drawn from various parts of the globe, he said the consultants visit the hospitals on sabbatical to offer pro bono services, adding that patients equally access the medical services of consultants that are resident overseas, through the use of ICT medical conference facilities.
“ The hospital was built by the state government through the use of public funds.
“I want to, this day, debunk the rumors that the hospital has been sold. It is still the property of the people of Kano. We only engage the services of a private firm under the PPP agreement which will run for six years.
He, however, said “Our partners has no profit motive. The Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital and Isiyaku Rabiu Peadiatric Clinic now have the facilities in all medical departments that can offer any service that you can receive in any part of the world.”
Speaking at the occasion, Chief Executive Officer, North Field Health Services , Dr. Shaibu Sule Dambatta, stated that the firm has sealed a deal with Kano State Government through KUSH, to manage the hospitals and upgrade them to the best global standard.
He disclosed that the management has enrolled the services of medical experts , of Nigerian descent, but resident and practicing in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He noted that experts render their service for free,, though this he said has assisted in paving avenue for Kano residents, patients from neighboring state and countries to now afford to receive adequate medical attention at an affordable cost, at the hospitals.
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Dambatta revealed that the hospitals have enrolled over 2,000 civil servants into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Kano State Health Contributory Funds.
Chief Medical Director, CMD, Shiekh Isiyaku Rabiu Pediatric Specialist Hospital, Dr. Hadiza Hashiru, enjoined the people of Kano State to access quality services available at the hospital.
According to her, Kano State Government had invested bulk sums into the provision of the best available child care facilities that are now available at the hospital.
Dr. Hadiza disclosed that, the pediatric facilities available at the hospital is unavailable in any part of Northern Nigeria, she appealed to Kano populace to explore the health service opportunity made available to the government.
