The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja says its indigenous cardiac surgery team has performed its first open-heart surgery on a 22-year-old patient, Kehinde Soyinka.
The LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Adewale Oke, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday.
Oke said: “The essence of this conference is to show that we have developed the capacity and we are able now with our team to conduct safe, cost-effective cardiac surgery in LASUTH.
“This is one of the dreams of the Lagos State Government which wants to limit medical tourism to its barest minimum.
“We have improved our skills so that we can accommodate this and cut down the cost of these surgeries.”
He Also said, “We have looked at our books and we are thinking that a minimum amount of about N2.5 million will adequately cover the cost of surgery and admission.
“Of course, follow up will depend on what the patient needs from time to time or the degree and the kind of surgery.
“If you do it here in Nigeria, you are at home, you are likely to heal better among relations and in a friendly environment and above all, the cost will be driven to the barest minimum.”
Oke said the burden of structural heart disease requiring surgical intervention was on the rise in the country.
The patient, Soyinka, who expressed gratitude to the hospital management, said that she was very fit and healthy.
Soyinka said: “I am grateful that the doctors stood by me throughout the surgery; I never thought I will be able to afford the surgery.
“But, at a lower cost at the hospital and with support from my husband, I am able to get the surgery done.”
