By Desire Uzochukwu
Nigeria has prevented more than $200 million in foreign exchange outflows through investments in local cancer treatment and diagnostic services, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, has disclosed.
The authority said the investments are helping to reduce outbound medical tourism by enabling Nigerians who would previously have travelled abroad for specialized care to access quality cancer treatment and advanced diagnostic services within the country.
According to NSIA, the impact has been particularly evident at the MedServe-LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos, where more than 25,000 radiotherapy sessions and 10,000 chemotherapy treatments have been delivered to about 15,000 unique patients since the centre commenced operations.
The authority said the centre has recorded cases of “reversed medical tourism”, with some Nigerians referred overseas returning to receive treatment locally because of the quality and cost-effectiveness of services available at the facility. Treatment costs, it said, are often less than half of comparable services abroad.
For years, Nigerians seeking specialised treatment, particularly for cancer and other complex conditions, have travelled to countries including India, the United Kingdom and the United States. Such trips involve not only medical bills but also international travel, accommodation and other expenses, putting additional pressure on families and contributing to foreign exchange outflows.
NSIA said its healthcare investments are designed to address some of these gaps by expanding access to specialized services and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to provide treatment locally.
Through its healthcare subsidiary, NSIA Advanced Medical Services Limited, Med Serve, the authority has developed three demonstration projects: the Med Serve-LUTH Cancer Centre, the Med Serve-Kano Diagnostic Centre and the Med Serve-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre.
The LUTH center, which commenced operations in 2019, provides specialized oncology services, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. NSIA said the facility has become a major component of efforts to improve access to cancer treatment while reducing dependence on overseas care.
The Kano and Umuahia centers provide advanced diagnostic services, including radiology and pathology, helping to improve access to specialized investigations in parts of the country where such services have historically been limited.
NSIA said its healthcare investments have generated both health and economic benefits, including improved access to care, better patient outcomes, reduced outbound medical tourism and foreign exchange conservation.
The authority has also moved to expand the initiative beyond the three existing facilities.
Through its Healthcare Expansion programme, Med Serve plans to establish additional oncology and diagnostic centers and cardiac catheterisation laboratories across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. NSIA’s current strategy includes 23 modern diagnostic centers, three oncology centers and seven catheterisation laboratories.
In February 2026, NSIA said it had partnered with the International Finance Corporation, IFC, to scale up diagnostic and cancer care services for underserved communities in Nigeria. The financing is expected to support the expansion of facilities equipped with technologies including CT and MRI scanners, digital pathology laboratories and linear accelerators for cancer treatment.
The authority said the expansion is intended to make specialized healthcare more accessible geographically while reducing the need for Nigerians to seek treatment outside the country.
NSIA’s healthcare intervention comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over Nigeria’s medical tourism and the gaps in specialized healthcare infrastructure, equipment and skilled personnel.
The authority said its investments are not only aimed at reducing outbound medical tourism but also at strengthening the wider healthcare ecosystem through infrastructure, technology and capacity building.
It said more than 186 clinicians had undergone specialised oncology training through its programmes, with more than 10,000 training hours delivered, reflecting the emphasis on developing the workforce alongside medical infrastructure.
NSIA said it would continue to invest in oncology, diagnostics and other specialized healthcare services as part of efforts to improve access to quality care, strengthen Nigeria’s health system and reduce dependence on treatment abroad.
The authority’s experience with the Med Serve-LUTH Cancer Centre suggests that expanding specialized care locally could deliver a double benefit for Nigeria — improving access to potentially life-saving treatment while keeping a greater share of healthcare spending within the domestic economy.
