The hospital’s management said continued investment in advanced medical equipment, specialist expertise and clinical services was helping more Nigerians access complex treatment at home instead of travelling abroad. Since opening in October 2021, the hospital has expanded its services across several areas of medicine, including cardiovascular care, paediatric surgery, spinal procedures, diagnostics and maternity services.

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Olajide Ojo, said the facility handled an estimated 40,000 outpatient visits annually and delivered about 500 babies each year.

Ojo disclosed that the hospital’s open-heart surgery programme, launched in 2023, had recorded 44 procedures, comprising 20 operations on children and 24 on adults.

He said the achievements reflected the hospital’s efforts to build local capacity for specialised medical treatment and improve access to services that have traditionally led some Nigerian patients to seek care overseas.

The hospital has also partnered with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) through the Duchess Waiting List Initiative, which aims to improve access to cardiothoracic surgery for patients facing lengthy waiting periods.

According to Ojo, the collaboration has helped expand access to treatment by bringing together specialist teams and facilities from the public and private healthcare sectors.

He described the hospital’s first five years as a period of building clinical capacity, strengthening patient confidence and expanding the range of services available locally.

Chairman of Duchess International Hospital, Dr Yemi Onabowale, said the facility was established partly to address gaps in advanced medical care and reduce Nigerians’ dependence on overseas treatment.

He noted that the hospital had continued to invest in specialist services and technology while pursuing affordability initiatives and corporate social responsibility programmes.

Onabowale said the hospital’s long-term ambition was to expand access to quality healthcare, strengthen its clinical capabilities and help more Nigerians receive advanced treatment within the country.

The chairman also noted that Duchess received the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award for Best Private Healthcare Facility in Nigeria in 2024 and 2025, according to the hospital’s management.

A major factor in efforts to reduce medical tourism is the return of Nigerian specialists living abroad. The hospital said some medical professionals in the diaspora had returned to perform complex procedures locally, giving patients another option for treatment without the additional costs and disruption associated with international travel.

Its management claimed that local treatment could help eligible patients avoid long waiting periods overseas and reduce surgical costs by more than 50 per cent. However, the extent of the savings may vary depending on the procedure, hospital, destination and individual patient needs.

The issue remains significant for Nigeria’s healthcare sector. In 2022, the West African Health Sector Unions Network cited an estimate that Nigerians spent about $1 billion annually on medical tourism, highlighting concerns about gaps in domestic healthcare infrastructure and the migration of medical professionals.

The Federal Government has also identified stronger local healthcare capacity as part of its efforts to reduce the need for treatment abroad.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the government was working to improve the environment for healthcare professionals through investments in modern facilities and measures aimed at improving remuneration.

He added that strengthening tertiary healthcare institutions was important to expanding the availability of specialised treatment within Nigeria.

Salako commended Duchess for investing in advanced facilities and specialist care, noting that private healthcare providers could complement public-sector efforts to improve service delivery.

The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, also highlighted the importance of cooperation between government and private healthcare providers in expanding capacity, supporting innovation and improving patient access.

Represented at the anniversary by Dr Folakemi Irewole-Ojo, Medical Director of General Hospital, Ebute Metta, she commended the hospital’s contribution to healthcare delivery in Lagos State.

Delivering the anniversary lecture, Professor Nicholas Ossei-Gerning, a cardiologist at Spire Hospital in Cardiff, United Kingdom, called for greater awareness of cardiovascular disease and the importance of routine medical checks.

He highlighted high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol and other health and lifestyle factors as concerns requiring early attention.

Ossei-Gerning also explained that erectile dysfunction can sometimes be an early indicator of underlying cardiovascular problems, encouraging men to seek appropriate medical assessment rather than ignore persistent symptoms.

As Duchess International Hospital enters its sixth year, its management says it intends to continue investing in specialist services, technology and partnerships to widen access to advanced treatment.

While the hospital’s reported surgical activity demonstrates the range of procedures being undertaken locally, reducing medical tourism on a national scale will also depend on affordability, health insurance coverage, specialist staffing and access to reliable healthcare beyond major cities.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia