Health
Designate Ibom Medical City corridor Free Trade Zone, NMA urges Eno
By Patrick Odey
The Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, has called on Governor Umo Eno to designate the Ibom Medical City corridor as a tax incentive and Free Trade Zone to attract both local and international investors.
A statement issued on Sunday by the association’s chairman, Prof. Aniekan Peter, in Uyo, said the move would encourage the establishment of world-class hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, medical equipment manufacturers and producers of hospital consumables, while also creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.
The 350-bed Ibom Medical City was unveiled last week by the state government as a deliberate policy initiative aimed at transforming healthcare delivery, reducing medical tourism and positioning the state as a leading destination for specialised healthcare services in Nigeria and beyond.
The statement partly read: “To maximise the enormous healthcare and economic potential of the Ibom Medical City, the Association respectfully appeals to the State Government to designate the Ibom Medical City corridor as a Tax Incentive and Free Trade Zone.
“Such a designation will attract both local and international investors, encourage the establishment of world-class hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, medical equipment manufacturers and producers of hospital consumables, as well as create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth.”
The association noted that clustering healthcare institutions within the corridor would foster collaboration in clinical services, specialist training, medical education, research and innovation.
It therefore urged both public and private investors, including federal, state and privately owned teaching hospitals, specialist hospitals and research institutions, to establish facilities within the Ibom Medical City.
The statement further urged the state government to consider upgrading the Ibom Specialist Hospital into a teaching hospital and medical university within the corridor.
It added, “The Association further calls on both public and private investors, including federal, state and privately owned teaching hospitals, specialist hospitals and research institutions, to consider locating their facilities within the Ibom Medical City.
“The clustering of healthcare institutions will foster collaboration in clinical services, specialist training, medical education, research and innovation, thereby establishing the city as Nigeria’s foremost healthcare hub. We also urge the Governor to strongly consider upgrading the Ibom Specialist Hospital into a teaching hospital and medical university within this corridor.”
The association also urged the state government to deliberately partner with Akwa Ibom medical professionals in the diaspora in the planning, development, governance and operation of the Ibom Medical City.
It said harnessing the expertise, global experience, and international networks of these professionals would help establish the highest standards of clinical care, medical education, research, hospital administration, quality assurance and institutional governance.
“Their involvement will provide the robust institutional framework required to successfully develop and sustainably manage a medical city of this magnitude, positioning Akwa Ibom as a globally competitive centre of healthcare excellence,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its readiness to partner with the state government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful realisation of the vision, the association commended the government’s commitment to quality healthcare, saying the project would boost medical education, research, innovation and medical tourism in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We commend the Governor’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the health sector through strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure,” the statement said.
The association also applauded the provision of a state-of-the-art CT scanner and other modern diagnostic and therapeutic equipment for the Ibom Specialist Hospital, noting that the investments would significantly improve healthcare delivery, reduce medical referrals outside the state and restore public confidence in tertiary healthcare services.
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