The India Invasion
Beyond trade and tourism imperatives, more and more Nigerians from virtually all walks of life now rush to Indian private hospitals, seeking quality medicare which appears elusive at home
By Lawson Hayford, New Delhi, India
It is not news that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country has a bilateral relationship with the Asian country of India, dating back to some decades now. What is news, however, is the fact that Nigeria has gone beyond ties on trade and tourism to include servant search for healthcare services with India, a nation increasingly threatened by population explosion. And, this is certainly not official.
Over the past three years, India has unofficially become some kind of second home to Nigerians, most of whom come to the Asian country in search of quality medical services which are lacking back home. The tempo was to assume a frightening dimension few months ago as several Nigerians, particularly political office holders, National and State legislators and their families now seem to enlist the patronage of private hospitals in the Indian cities of New Delhi, Haryana and Mumbai. Available statistics indicate that no fewer than 300 Nigerians from virtually all states of the federation, particularly Benue and the Northern axis pay what is commonly referred to as “Medical Visits” to India’s private hospitals including Artemis Health Institute; Apollo Medical Centre, New Delhi; Medanta Hospital, Haryana; Fortis Hospital, New Delhi and the Metros of Mumbai monthly. Investigations also showed that state and federal High Court judges, religious leaders, top civil servants and some business executives are also part of the monthly visitors to India for better health services.
Anup Kumar Handa, an Indian national of the International Patient Services at Medanta Hospital told The Source that foreign patronages of most private hospitals in India were the mainstay of the health institutions. Handa, who was a former staff of Artemis Health Institute stated before he left there early this year, the institute was recieving a minimum of 250 Nigerian patients monthly. This was before the establishment of some new private hospitals including Medanta within the same Haryana area.
Mrs. Jenifur Pilania, the Executive International Marketer at Artemis Health Institute corroborated Handa’s view when she confirmed that the major nucleus of their patients were foreigners, especially Nigerians and Iraqis. According to her, While between 40-50 per cent of such patients come from Nigeria, the other 50-60 per cent are shared by other countries, with Iraq taking the lead. But the ready question being asked by Nigerians and even Indians alike is: Why are foreigners so attracted to Indian hospitals, particularly Artemis Health Institute and Apollo Medical Centre?
Two major factors, from The Source’s findings are working in favour of these health institutions. One: They are equipped with modern facilities and state – of – the – art infrastructure, as well as the latest technology in the industry. Two: With renowned physicians and specialists from across the globe, the two hospitals provide comprehensive healthcare services in varied areas of medicine, geared toward research-based bedside procedure for their patients. Both Jenifur and Handa were in agreement that Artemis in particular “maintains high standards in healthcare delivery services”, citing their “World-standard facilities and specialists in various fields of medicine” from different parts of the world.
A female judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja who preferred anonymity told The Source that after visiting the three major hospitals in Haryana and New Delhi, the facilities and services at Artemis Hospital were better than the rest. According to her, the welfare scheme at the health institution for both local and foreign patients was equal to none, although she expressed worry at the poor level of communication between patients and the staff. She advised the Nigerian government to emulate the “magic” currently happening in India. The judge said by the miracle taking place in the health sector, the Indian Government has confirmed that the country has the largest number and best medical doctors in the world.
Alhaji Isa Mohammed, a civil servant from one of the ministries in Gombe state, said in an interview that he has become so regular in Indian hospitals because of the availability of state – of – the – art equipment and specialised medical personnel as well as prompt services to patients. He said he had been frequenting Artemis Health Institute and had also recommended it to several others for adequate and proper medical attention.
According to him, the health institutions in Nigeria are glorified centres with out-standing facilities, in addition to improper attention by doctors, nurses and other Para – medical personnel.
Some other Nigerians who would rather prefer anonymity corroborated Mohammed’s view and described the influx of Nigerians to India in search of medical treatment as “embarrassing”. They regretted that Nigeria with her enormous wealth could not provide any standard hospital with standard facilities and personnel in any of her health institutions, leaving the citizenry with no choice than to seek solace elsewhere. One of them particularly wondered what had been happening to the billions of Naira budgeted annually by the states and the federal governments for the health sector.
Ben Edozie, an Economics lecturer in one of Nigeria’s many universities said the economic loss of such mass movement of Nigerians in search of good medical facilities was simply scandalous. He could not understand why Nigerian leaders– both past and present– fail to attach importance to the provision of good health facilities inspite of huge yearly budgetary provisions. Edozie stated that the National Hospital, Aso Rock clinic, Abuja and some teaching hospitals in parts of the country could only boast of few standard equipment, but certainly not comparable to the ones in Indian private hospitals. Rather than laboratory tests being run by laboratory technicians or their assistants as in Nigerian hospitals, The Source’s investigations revealed, trained medical or academic doctors in related fields carry out such tests by themselves.
In comparison, Apollo and Artemis appear the biggest in size and capacity than the other private hospitals, with Artemis, established three years ago with 260 beds aiming to surpass the others within the next few years when it will reach its projected 500-bed health institute. Although Apollo Tyres, the largest tyre manufacturing company in India and the third in the world is the conglomerate that owns Artemis Health Institute, it has no link with Apollo Medical Centre. Apollo is the name of a Greek god, which literally means “god of Peace.” Artemis which also means “god of Peace” is sister to Apollo according to Greek mythology. In all, comparatively, Artemis remains the leading private health institution in India.
Besides the provision of good healthcare services, Nigerians patronising these hospitals are crying out over the exorbitant bills they are being made to pay by the various private hospitals, describing such charges as “uncomfortable and exploitative”. In most cases, they said the bills given to patients at the end of their treatment are usually higher than the ones sent to them through the internet.
Ebi and Edohin from Bayelsa and Edo states, respectively, confirmed the bill disparity, resulting in some patients having to request more funds from home or borrow to settle bills their before leaving for Nigeria.
Even Indians themselves are complaining about high and inflated bills from these hospitals. Last week, 18 insurance companies operating in the Asian country stopped direct payment to some 150 hospitals for their “mediclaim cashless facility” to beneficiaries, opting to pay specified amount to such claim to cover their health insurance policy.
According to The Times of India, the largest circulating newspaper there, such beneficiaries who opt for the affected hospitals could make payment from their pockets and seek refund without “any guarantee of full refund”. Some of the affected hospitals include Apollo Medical Centre, New Delhi; Medanta Hospital, Haryana; Fortis Hospital, New Delhi; Gangaran Hospital, New Delhi; Max/Medicity Hospital, New Delhi ; the National Capital Region(N.C..R); the Metros of Mumbai, Banglor and Chennai.
In defence of what she considers “moderate billings”by her hospital, Artemis which although was not listed by the insurance group, Jenifur said the charges were commensurate with the services rendered, explaining that “we have a standard here at Artemis and we do not want to go below it”.
She refused to use the word “exploitation” to describe their charges, claiming that “we try as much as possible to make our foreign patients comfortable and cannot therefore scare them with high bills”.
But a majority of the affected hospitals have protested the pull- out by the insurance firms in. The hospitals petitioned the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) , India seeking its intervention and suggested that the companies involved in the inflation of hospital bills be identified and dealt with rather than a blanket blackmail of hospitals operating in the country.
Beyond the huge Nigerians patronage of orthodox medicine in India, some of them equally invade the Asian country in search of effective trado-medicine for either the treatment of some dreaded diseases through the use of herbs and roots or the acquisition of “supernatural powers” to enhance their socio-political and spiritual status. With such powers, some of them including supposed men of god invoke their churches businesses. Among such gods are “Durga” meaning God of power;”Hanuman”, the god of power too;”Shiva”, the god that generates power and “Sai”, the messenger and caring god, as well as “Krishna”, the god of love.