It’s already in the public domain, the brief interview granted by the wife of the President upon her return to Abuja this morning.

I am being very deliberate here, I refuse to use First Lady. Firstly it isn’t constitutional, secondly it isn’t an elective office, therefore the conversation around its antics should be let out of formal public discourse. I say this with all sense of respect to the current occupant, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari

Anyway, my choice of mentioning this visit is around a subject touched on by Her Excellency. She made it clear whilst in the United Kingdom she took out time to attend to her Health. You would ask, why the mention, isn’t this what rational people do?

Oh yes it is.

Secondly, you may decide to go forward and use Mr President as a case study to justify her position on overseas health check ups for Political Office Holders . After all, they render an enormous service to the nation. Some of my own close friends have also done the same, just that they did such out of pocket.

Permit me to issue a disclaimer here. I am a medical doctor based in the United Kingdom but who had his undergraduate training in Nigeria. I have seen the healthcare systems of both countries and during this process also undertook a Masters in Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the London School of Economics and Political Science. So to that extent I bring some pertinent questions to the issue of health tourism.

Dr Gabby, a colleague of mine forwarded the proposed 2019 budget which was kind enough to interrogate the spending on sectoral allocation. Health remains poorly appropriated for. The 2001 Abuja declaration of which we are a signatory to, earmarks at least 15% of the National Budget to Health. Sadly, we have fallen short of 5%. Please do keep in mind that appropriation doesn’t mean release. Also take in cognisance the recurrent expenditures of many of the MDAs in the health sectors alongside staff remuneration.

One of the perks of being in government especially in strategic roles is such overseas check ups. And you may ask, what exactly constitutes a check up.
Not much really. Blood pressure monitoring, routine blood tests including a prostate testing for men in the 50s and above, a mammogram for women to detect early breast symptoms such as cancers, electrocardiograph and echocardiogram to check for abnormalities in heart rhythm and function and a urine test to look out for early signs of chronic kidney disease.

Depending on your co- morbidities, lifestyle and ethnic origin you may need a look more or less particularly if you are younger . Interestingly, the city of London is riddled with many private clinics ready to embark on such basics test at exorbitant prices. In some instances, it is the same set of Nigerian health professionals who found their way out of the ineffective and inefficient health structure that open their doors to willing customers.

However, the issue at heart isn’t one that seeks to name and shame. After all health they say is wealth. But, there is a sense in which mere embarking on a health check up isn’t right by political office holders especially our leaders

. First, I believe it is an attempt at treating a symptom without assessing and addressing the disease. We have the same manpower like any other nation. Despite the paucity of health professionals, we still have many, medical doctors, nurses and other health related allied professionals without a job.

Secondly, I wouldn’t be naive to think merely ploughing our hard earned resources into health would suddenly rewrite the urge health outcomes that’s been a constant phenomenon in our healthcare. Certainly, we must have a conversation about how we intent to find it . The current out of pocket payment (OOP) only perpetuates inequality and further deepens poverty amongst the less endowed amongst us.

Thirdly, I perceive a level of inferiority complex. A sense in which, if it isn’t done overseas it isn’t quality . You may corroborate that our hospitals have lost their standards and have become mere consulting clinics. I agree, but, isn’t that what governance is all about ?
Where is the place for regulation and strict oversight by the National Assembly?

With over $2!billion dollars finding its way out on health tourism, shouldn’t we begin to make more demands on government?
I understand that, my position may irritate some,’but isn’t our civic role as citizens to be one that seeks to put leadership on its toes?

Lastly, like life, being in government is transient and so are it’s perks. No one can be in government forever. Someday a new cohort with its own set of ‘cabals’ would occupy the ‘Power House’. For its occupants, then, in the words of Former Presidential media spokesman, ‘the phone would have stopped ringing’.

Only then, would the issues in the health sector be better appreciated. Indeed, it is said, only those one loves does one chastise . It is my hope that someday, the bullish news would be how, Mr President emerged from Garki Hospital or Maitama District Hospital after a routine checkup.

Dr Babatunde Tikare is a physician and health policy analyst. He writes from London.

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