The hospital disclosed the figures while marking its fifth anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to providing advanced medical treatment locally and improving access to specialist care.

According to the hospital’s management, the facility has attracted Nigerian medical specialists based abroad to participate in complex procedures, allowing patients to receive advanced treatment at home rather than travel overseas. The hospital also said this approach could help patients avoid lengthy waiting periods and reduce treatment expenses by more than 50 per cent, although the savings figure was not independently verified.

Speaking at the anniversary event, the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Olajide Ojo, said the facility attends to approximately 40,000 outpatients annually, delivers about 500 babies and has performed 2,053 surgical procedures involving both children and adults. He said major and complex operations account for about 65 per cent of the surgeries, including spinal procedures.

Ojo, a consultant paediatrician, disclosed that the hospital had performed 44 open-heart surgeries since launching its programme in 2023. The procedures comprised 20 paediatric operations and 24 involving adult patients.

He also highlighted the hospital’s partnership with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, through the Duchess Waiting List Initiative, which aims to improve access to cardiovascular surgery for patients facing prolonged waiting periods.

Ojo said the hospital’s achievements reflected years of building clinical expertise, strengthening patient confidence and expanding its capacity to provide specialised medical services.

The Chairman of Duchess International Hospital, Dr Yemi Onabowale, said the facility was established to address gaps in advanced healthcare and reduce the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad. He added that its work included affordable healthcare programmes and corporate social responsibility initiatives designed to extend its impact beyond the hospital.

Onabowale said the hospital remained committed to delivering care that meets international standards across cardiovascular treatment, diagnostics and other specialist services. He commended its management and staff, noting that the facility received the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award for Best Private Healthcare Facility in Nigeria in 2024 and 2025.

He said the hospital planned to expand specialist services, invest in medical technology and personnel, increase access to quality treatment and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the next five years.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the Federal Government was working to address the migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals by improving the conditions under which they practise in the country.

Salako said government efforts included investments in modern healthcare facilities, improved remuneration for medical personnel and measures to strengthen tertiary hospitals. He added that expanding the capacity of local healthcare institutions was part of the broader effort to reduce medical tourism.

The minister commended Duchess International Hospital for its facilities and contribution to healthcare delivery, describing private-sector investment as an important complement to public efforts to improve medical services.

The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, also stressed the importance of collaboration between government and private healthcare providers. Represented by the Medical Director of General Hospital, Ebute Metta, Dr Folakemi Irewole-Ojo, she praised the hospital for providing specialist care and supporting efforts to reduce overseas medical treatment.

The anniversary lecture focused on cardiovascular health, with Professor Nicholas Ossei-Gerning, a cardiologist at Spire Hospital in Cardiff, United Kingdom, warning about the risks associated with cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Ossei-Gerning urged people to undergo regular medical checks to identify risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol before they lead to serious complications. He also discussed the effects of stress, depression, anxiety and limited social support on cardiovascular health.

The cardiologist further explained that erectile dysfunction can sometimes be associated with underlying cardiovascular disease, encouraging men to seek medical assessment rather than ignore persistent symptoms.

Nigeria has faced longstanding concerns about patients travelling abroad for specialised treatment and the migration of healthcare workers. In 2022, a health-sector group cited an estimate that Nigerians spent about $1bn annually on medical tourism. However, that figure is a historical estimate and should not be interpreted as a verified current annual total.

Duchess International Hospital said it would continue investing in specialist services, clinical capacity and technology as it seeks to make advanced treatment more accessible within Nigeria.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia