Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has proposed a partnership with Montefiore Einstein Medical Centre, New York, United States to advance the country’s healthcare services.
Kalu made the proposal while hosting the President of the centre, Dr. Philip Ozuah, and his team on a courtesy call on Friday in Abuja.
Ozuah, an outstanding Nigerian and a global leader in healthcare delivery also serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Montefiore Medicine, the umbrella organization for Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine based New York.
It will be recalled that the Deputy Speaker during his official trip to US in February this year had fruitful collaborative engagements with Ozuah.
The proposed partnership aims to address Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, brain drain, and medical tourism, which is estimated to cost the country approximately $1.1 billion annually.
Emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to tackle the issues, Kalu said that the 10th National Assembly has taken significant steps to improve Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including making health coverage mandatory under the National Health Insurance Act and expanding the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to support primary healthcare nationwide.
He however lamented that despite the gains, Nigeria still faces significant healthcare challenges.
He said: “In the 10th House of Representatives, health is regarded as central to national security, human capital development, and economic progress.
“The World Health Organisation estimates that every dollar invested in health returns four dollars in productivity gains. Nigeria has made notable strides: wild polio has been eradicated, maternal
and child health services have expanded, and tertiary health institutions are reaching more Nigerians than ever before. Under President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government has committed
to bold reforms and citizen-focused policies, with the 2024 national budget
allocating over ₦1.33 trillion to the health sector, the largest in our history.
“Yet, budgets alone do not deliver outcomes; resilient systems do. These
systems must be purposefully designed, adequately equipped, and consistently strengthened through clear policy, sustained investment, and innovative partnerships.
“The 10th National Assembly has taken significant steps: Health coverage is now mandatory under the NHIA Act; the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has been expanded to support primary healthcare nationwide; obsolete health laws have been modernized; the local pharmaceutical research is being promoted to boost domestic manufacturing; the Health Infrastructure Development and Regulation Bill has unified standards across the sector; the Medical Residency Training Fund (Amendment) Bill is advancing to stem brain drain; the National Assembly Clinic was commissioned as a model for public-sector healthcare delivery.
“Despite these gains, government action alone is insufficient. Nigeria faces
the dual challenge of declining international health aid and the annual loss of over $1.1 billion to outbound medical tourism.”
Kalu advanced several key areas of partnership with Montefiore Medicine, including the establishment of a Medical Research and Training Centre in Nigeria focused on critical areas such as cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, infectious diseases, and medical technology innovation.
He said that the centre would be modeled after leading global institutions and would require collaboration with the Federal Government and credible local investors.
The Deputy Speaker added that the partnership would also strengthen rural health infrastructure, with support for over 30,000 primary healthcare centers in Nigeria, especially in rural areas, through donations of modern equipment and surplus technology.
Kalu also proposed knowledge exchange initiatives, including training fellowships, research collaborations, telemedicine platforms, and AI-driven diagnostics to enable Nigerian professionals abroad to contribute to the domestic sector.
He added that the partnership would also explore Public-Private Partnerships to enable joint investment in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring sustainability and mutual benefit.
“However, lasting transformation requires partnerships that harness global
expertise and complement local initiatives. Dr. Ozuah, your leadership at
Montefiore Medicine offers an unparalleled opportunity to align world-class medical knowledge with Nigeria’s urgent health priorities, particularly in
tackling both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“We propose a partnership to establish a specialized Medical Research and
Training Centre in Nigeria, focused on cancer, kidney disease, diabetes,
infectious diseases, and medical technology innovation. This center,
modeled after leading global institutions, would require collaboration with
the Federal Government and credible local investors.
“Over 30,000 primary healthcare centers in Nigeria, especially in rural
areas, remain under-equipped. Montefiore Medicine’s support, including
donations of modern equipment and surplus technology from the United
States, would have a transformative impact, particularly in historically
underserved locations like Bende.
“Nigeria’s medical diaspora is vast and highly skilled. We propose knowledge exchange initiatives, training fellowships,
research collaborations, telemedicine platforms, and AI-driven diagnostics to enable Nigerian professionals abroad to contribute to the domestic sector without permanent relocation.
“The private sector is critical to bridging Nigeria’s healthcare investment gap. We propose exploring Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) with Montefiore Medicine to enable joint investment in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring sustainability and mutual benefit.
“Nigeria’s annual medical tourism bill, which once exceeded $1.6 billion, is
now trending downward. Montefiore’s collaboration can accelerate this by
developing centers of excellence that meet global standards and retain
patients locally”, he said.
Kalu also highlighted the South East region’s persistent gaps in healthcare infrastructure, a legacy of the civil war, noting that the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Act provides a framework for addressing these challenges.
He also highlighted the efforts of his initiative, the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) in tackling the health challenges in the region.
“Representing the South East, a region still healing from the legacy of conflict and underdevelopment, the promise of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation (3Rs) remains only partially fulfilled. Health reform is thus a critical pillar of my legislative agenda.
“Through the PISE-P initiative, we are rebuilding primary healthcare
centers, training community health workers, and developing sustainable
rural healthcare delivery models. I have sponsored the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill to systematically address these
gaps.
“The South East continues to bear the scars of the civil war, with persistent
gaps in healthcare infrastructure. The SEDC Act provides a framework for
addressing these challenges. Montefiore’s involvement would enhance
healthcare delivery and contribute to post-conflict reconstruction and regional stability.
“We look forward to forging a partnership that will transform Nigeria’s health system and create a lasting legacy for future generations”, Kalu said
Earlier in his remarks, Dr. Ozuah who made a presentation, showcasing the impacts by his organization in the United States expressed readiness to work with the Deputy Speaker in areas of mutual concerns to improve the health system in Nigeria.
Signed:
Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
