By Barth Ikiebe .
One of the largest healthcare groups in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Aster Group, has extended its medical outreach to Nigeria with free consultations, medical camps, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, senior officials of the group, said the programme, which began in Nigeria, has so far featured outpatient consultations (OPD), Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions, and collaborations with Nigerian doctors and health institutions.
Senior Manager for MVT, Aster DM Healthcare, Dr Saravanan Arimuthu, said the initiative provides Nigerians access to world-class specialists without the cost of traveling abroad.
“This OPD consultation is completely free. Patients in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano were able to see our doctors in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery without paying for visas or tickets,” he stated.
The sessions, held in partnership with Habib Medical Clinic (HMC) and Swift Air Ambulance Services, offered specialized care in knee and hip replacement, spine surgery, and neurosurgery.
Many patients, Arimuthu noted, presented with disc problems, brain tumors, and degenerative spine conditions requiring urgent attention.
Chief Executive Officer of Swift Air Ambulance Services, Abdulazeez Yinka Oniyangi, described the initiative as part of a “reverse medical tourism” strategy designed to bring accredited international healthcare standards closer to Nigerians.
He observed that Nigerians spend an estimated $2.5 billion annually on medical tourism, with 60 percent of that going to India.
“COVID-19 taught us that Nigerians cannot always rely on traveling abroad for treatment. This model reduces capital outflow by bringing globally recognized, JCI-accredited healthcare services directly to the country,” Oniyangi said.
Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Khalid Bitar, said orthopedic and neurosurgical care were prioritized due to the high number during the outreach.
“We came across many patients requiring knee and hip replacements, ACL surgeries, and treatment for spine issues. The response was overwhelming, showing a clear need for long-term collaboration,” he noted.
Also speaking, Dr. Vinay Kumar Gurumath, Specialist Neurosurgeon at Aster Hospital, stated that future programmes would extend to maternal and child health, pediatrics, and surgical partnerships with Nigerian hospitals.
He added that Nigerian doctors would benefit from skill-transfer opportunities through fellowships and joint surgical training.
On the challenges faced in Nigeria, the team identified foreign exchange fluctuations and medical brain drain as major obstacles but pledged continued collaboration with regulatory bodies such as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to ensure compliance and sustainability.
“This is just the beginning. We see Nigeria as a priority market with the highest healthcare demand in Africa, and we are committed to building long-term partnerships that strengthen local capacity and improve patient outcomes,” Dr.Gurumath remarked.
