The Ogun State Government has just handed over the 250-bed state-owned hospital in Abeokuta to Viewpoint Health Management Services Limited and OAN African Capital Holdings, officially marking a new chapter in the state’s healthcare system. The move comes as part of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s long-term plan to offer “world-class healthcare” to the people of Ogun State.
The specialist hospital, which has been a lingering project from the Ibikunle Amosun administration, is still a work in progress, with only about 65% of the construction completed. So, in typical Nigerian fashion, While partial operations are set to begin in March 2025, the full opening is scheduled for June 2025, but who really knows if that will stick.
Governor Abiodun was quick to boast that the hospital will “meet the precise needs of our population,” conveniently overlooking the fact that this is the same facility that has been languishing in a state of half-finished disrepair for years. Still, the optimism is noticeable. The state government promises that once it’s fully operational, this hospital will feature cutting-edge technology and advanced facilities, making it a place for medical research, training, and innovation. The dream is for the hospital to serve as a referral center, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on medical tourism and saving precious foreign exchange. But, as always, the devil’s in the details.
The hospital will be linked with the Abuja Medical Centre of Excellence, which itself is managed by King’s College Hospital. Great name drop there, what kind of “world-class” service are we really talking about when half the building is still under construction and everything is just “planned” for the future?
In a bid to push this project to completion, Viewpoint Health Management Services Limited, in partnership with HealthShare South Africa, will oversee the facility’s completion. While the hospital is listed as a 250-bed facility, Viewpoint is allowed to make changes as they see fit, potentially reconfiguring the place or adding more beds if needed. If you think that this idea is not feasible you are not totally wrong. This “partnership” also includes the management of the hospital for a stipulated period, with the governor assuring that everything will operate according to “global best practices.”
What about the people of Ogun State? Well, Governor Abiodun assures us that this partnership, along with the global expertise of Viewpoint and HealthShare South Africa, will result in a state-of-the-art healthcare system that’s well beyond the local standards. How much more of Nigeria’s “world-class” projects do we need before we realize that “global best practices” often just mean more paperwork and less actual delivery?
