Medical tourism gulped $6.23m in eight months

Nigeria spent a total of $6.23m on foreign healthcare-related services from January to August 22, 2023, The PUNCH reports.

This is according to a report obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the amount spent on health-related and social services under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange.

According to the report, $0.17m was spent on foreign health-related services in January while $0.14m was spent in February.

The spending increased in March and April to $0.43m and $3.02m respectively.

The CBN report also showed that the country spent $0.79m in May and dropped to $0.42m in June.

The amount spent peaked in July at $0.46m and increased to $0.80m in August.

The PUNCH reports that the amount for the eight months this year is more that the amount spent ($1.47m) for the same period in 2021.