Sarafa Tunji Isola, the former High Commissioner of Nigeria to the UK, has stated that medical tourism is a fabricated concept that has been politicized. He made these remarks on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while speaking to journalists during the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN). The event was themed “The Training of Muslim Healthcare Professionals: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges” with a sub-theme of “Healing the Healers: Burn-out, Compassionate Practice and the Muslim Healthcare Workers.” Isola contended that the label of medical tourism has become linked to public officials due to accountability issues, while private sector actors often avoid criticism. He noted that if an individual has a medical issue and is referred anywhere globally, as long as they can afford it or raise funds, it should not necessarily be considered medical tourism. Back then, individuals from Saudi Arabia would visit our UCH in Ibadan for medical care. Is that what you refer to as medical tourism? “When the term medical tourism is mentioned, it has become a politically charged topic,” Isola stated. He clarified that improvements in medical knowledge and technology have driven individuals to seek healthcare abroad. “What is referred to as medical tourism is largely a political issue and not actually prevalent.” It’s important to recognize that technological advancement differs across countries. According to him, traveling abroad for medical care due to a lack of expertise or technology in Nigeria, when one can afford it, should not be labeled as medical tourism. He urged public officials to prioritize improving healthcare facilities within Nigeria. In his keynote speech, Prof. Ibrahim Uthman from the University of Ibadan’s Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies highlighted the necessity for Muslim healthcare professionals to develop new skills, initiatives, and ethics to broaden their understanding of other healthcare practitioners and patients, thereby enhancing their capabilities. He pointed out that Muslims face several barriers in accessing healthcare, such as widespread discrimination, a shortage of qualified Muslim healthcare providers, and Islamophobia, advocating for ongoing training to support understanding of patients’ religious commitments. Additionally, Dr. Ibrahim Opeewe, the State Chairman/Amir of IMAN, stated that the AGM’s agenda was centered on improving the welfare of members through medical outreach programs that offer free eye and dental screenings, glasses, medications, and more. He expressed the association’s willingness to collaborate with individuals, institutions, and groups to deliver healthcare services to the local community.
