Princewill: Nigeria ‘ll Soon Become Medical Tourism Hub

With the coming of the American Hospital Dubai Limited, Nigeria is inching closer to becoming the world’s medical tourism hub, according to Prince Tonye Princewill, a member of the board of hospital’s directors and former gubernatorial aspirant of the APC in Rivers State.

From being a major player in the nation’s oil and gas industry to politics which many know him for, Princewill has put his hands into film production, hotels, mega restaurants, media, technology and engineering services; his latest adventure being the investment in the medicare business.

He told TNN in an online interview that having watched many people die needlessly, he decided to get into the provision of medical services. According to him, the hospital which started its operations in Lagos is now ready to render services in Abuja and would thereafter open its doors to people in Port Harcourt and Kano.

Princewill said the coming of the America Hospital Dubai was to make life easier for those who always desire to have quality health services outside Nigeria. “In the first instance they are here to make your trip to the hospital even easier. Flights, accommodation and logistics made more affordable.

“Secondly, they are not stopping at just a Lagos presence. They want to bring their brand of care closer to Nigerians. That’s why they intend on setting up another office in Abuja and a diagnostic centre in Lagos.

“All the while, they will be building capacity locally. Eventually Nigeria will be a hub for medical tourism too. There is no substitute for public health and private healthcare establishments like ours can only do so much to compliment the good work already being done in places like Lagos. Things are improving steadily and preliminary discussions suggest that the masses will benefit greatly from collaborations like this.

He said the Abuja office of the hospital will be open in December this year. He has said in a statement earlier, that “this office will serve as a key link between the Dubai-based hospital and Nigerian patients, providing easier access to advanced medical care in Dubai.

“This follows the successful launch of the hospital’s first Nigerian office in Lagos on August 19, 2024. The Lagos office was commissioned by the UAE Consulate General in Nigeria, Dr. Abdullah Al-Mandoos, alongside the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who represented Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“We considered setting up additional representative offices to ensure broader access to our services. Just like the Lagos office, the Abuja office will also serve as another healthcare ’embassy’, bridging the gap between enquiries and travel to the American Hospital Dubai for medical treatment. The hospital is quite popular with Nigerians, but we don’t want to take them for granted.”

He said the hospital was well positioned to assist Nigerian patients with visas, flights, and accommodation, “making it easier for them to receive world-class healthcare in Dubai if needed. This expansion reflects the first phase of the American Hospital Dubai’s commitment to investing in Nigeria and improving healthcare access for its people.”