Jonathan To Stop Government OfficialsFrom Receiving Medical TreatmentAbroad

President Goodluck Jonathan has said his
administration will reduce medical tourism
to the barest minimum, as he stated that
government officials will henceforth be
stopped from seeking medical treatment
abroad except in special cases.

Jonathan has therefore directed the
Ministry of Health to collaborate with the
Ministry of Finance and Trade and
Investment to consult with medical
practitioners with a view to supporting
private investors to build state-of-the-
art hospitals in the country.
This was disclosed after the president
held a meeting, yesterday, with the
Nigeria Medical Association, NMA in a bid
to ensure the proposed strike by the
association does not hold.
According to a source who was present at
the meeting, the president’s decision
would promote local potential, strengthen
the sector, improve fiscal policy on
medical equipment and check the growth
of medical tourism.
He said Jonathan had also directed that
before any government official is allowed
to travel abroad for medical reasons,
government must first be satisfied that
no such medical services exist in Nigeria.
The National Health Insurance Scheme
(NHIS), according to him, would be
critically looked into by the president to
make it more productive.
Yesterday’s meeting was presided over by
Jonathan and had in attendance, Vice-
President Namadi Sambo; Governor
Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State;
Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu;
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi
Chukwu; Director-General of Budget
Office, Dr. Bright Okogu; and the
Chairman of the National Salaries,
Incomes and Wages Commission, Chief
Richard Egbule, among others.