Lagos State Government to Carry Out Free Open-Heart Surgeries for 30 Indigent Patients
The Lagos State Government has announced it was to sponsor free open-heart surgeries for 30 indigent patients, funded completely by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said.
Abayomi made the statement at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where he further explained that the project will serve those who cannot afford to pay for the procedure, which costs N8.5 million per patient.
The operations will be conducted in three stages – April, August, and December – and will be performed by a team of experienced medical professionals at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
As explained by Prof. Abayomi, the programme is in reaction to the economic burden borne by patients who most times have to travel abroad for treatment because Nigeria does not have specialized medical equipment and human resources.
“Patients would otherwise have to spend so much money going outside the country for treatment. Those who cannot afford that have no option. Some heart conditions can be treated with drugs, but some require surgery,” he explained.
The commissioner commended the dedication of Lagos doctors who have worked hard to make open-heart surgery a reality in state-owned hospitals. He added that the initiative was a show of the government’s resolve to push the boundaries of science and medical interventions in the country.
LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, noted that poor patients alone would be considered for the free operations, while Prof. Bode Falase, Head of Cardio-Thoracic Division, revealed that patient selection would begin next month.
Prof. Falase noted that apart from investment in health infrastructure and training, a lot remains to be done regarding accessing appropriate suppliers for medical equipment and bringing surgical care within reach. “Surgery remains the proximate limitation. The cost of open-heart surgery in Nigeria today is on average 8.5 million naira (around $5,000). The majority of people just cannot afford this, and I have myself seen how patients suffer because of costs,” he further noted.
The initiative is a significant step towards bridging the gap in Lagos State healthcare availability and affordability, and aims to bring relief and hope to many poor patients who would otherwise be unable to afford life-saving treatment.
