Senator Gershom Bassey
Senator Bassey seeks creation of six specialised hospitals across Nigeria to lift medical tourism
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Senator representing Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Gershom Bassey has called for the creation of Six Special Hospitals across the country.
These hospitals, he said should be sited in the six geo political zones to help end medical Tourism.
Senator Bassey who is also a gubernatorial hopeful in Cross River State made this known in Calabar.
He said it’s unconstitutional to stop people from going abroad but the new hospitals when created will go a long way in ending the practice.
Senator Bassey said: “There should be a minimum of six special and well equipped hospitals in the six geo-political zones of the country and whatever we can do to improve health care in our country is welcomed.
“I will not subscribe to the idea of banning political office holders including the president from going abroad for medical treatment as a way of boosting our health system.
“It is unconstitutional, however I would expect that if facilities are available and meet international standards then all leaders starting with whoever is the sitting President would lead by example by patronizing such facilities”, Senator Bassey said.
On the Navy Hospital in Calabar, he said, “we can make it the equivalent of the Walter Reed Hospital in the United States.
“This is the hospital all us, presidents use exclusively. So with the situation with some of our top Gov officials it could stem the tide of medical tourism”, he said.
