Africa is losing about $7 billion annually as thousands of patients travel abroad for medical treatment.

Over 300,000 Africans visit India alone each year seeking specialist care. The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi raised this issue during a media roundtable in Lagos.

The hospital urged African countries to invest more in their healthcare systems to reduce the outflow of patients and money. It presented its Nairobi facility as a good alternative for Nigerians who usually seek treatment in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Officials identified shortages of specialist services, inconsistent quality, and the belief that better care is only available outside Africa as key reasons for the trend.

The Chief Operating Officer of the hospital, Khurram Jamal, said building healthcare systems that inspire trust is more important than appealing to patriotism. He noted that patients will only choose local hospitals if they meet international standards.

The Aga Khan University Hospital was the first in the region to receive Joint Commission International accreditation and has kept the certification through regular reaccreditations.

Jamal added that the hospital also holds internationally recognised certifications in areas like pathology, laboratory medicine, cardiac care, and stroke services. The roundtable called for stronger healthcare infrastructure and better service delivery across Africa. Many agreed that cutting down on medical tourism would save the continent significant funds and improve local medical development.

The disclosure has triggered fresh discussions about the state of healthcare in Africa. Stakeholders are urging governments to focus on specialist services and quality improvement. The aim is to make quality medical care more available within the continent and reduce the huge financial loss caused by medical tourism.

Photo credit: The Guardian