Nigeria Makes Strides in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Aims to Reduce Medical Tourism

Nigeria’s healthcare sector has made significant advancements in bone marrow transplantation, positioning the country as a potential player in the lucrative global market valued at over $11 billion.

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has played a pivotal role in this progress, assembling a team of experienced specialists and expanding its medical infrastructure. In a recent collaboration with the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), two patients with sickle cell anemia successfully underwent bone marrow transplants at LUTH.

While this is a significant achievement, the high cost of bone marrow transplants remains a major barrier to access for many Nigerians. The procedure can cost upwards of $500,000, making it unaffordable for most individuals. This has led many patients to seek treatment abroad, contributing to Nigeria’s substantial medical tourism expenditure of approximately $1 billion annually.

To address this challenge, the Nigerian government aims to establish a local supply chain for bone marrow transplants, reducing the need for patients to travel overseas. This would not only save the country significant foreign exchange but also improve access to life-saving treatments for domestic patients.

The successful bone marrow transplants at LUTH demonstrate Nigeria’s growing expertise in this field. As the country continues to invest in medical research and infrastructure, it has the potential to become a regional leader in bone marrow transplantation, offering affordable and accessible treatment options to patients both domestically and internationally.