In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Zaria, the Chief Medical Director, Ahmed Umdagas, shared this development.
Umdagas indicated that the Urology Centre of Excellence is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2025, offering top-tier urology services.
“ABUTH will begin kidney transplants by early 2025. Our only delay has been related to some infrastructural improvements,” he explained.
He further noted that the necessary machines and equipment for kidney transplants are already in place, and the staff has received comprehensive training to provide these services.
In addition to the urology center, Umdagas mentioned the establishment of an Amenity Wing designed to accommodate patients from all backgrounds.
He elaborated that this amenity wing will feature single-bed rooms and suites for more affluent patients, emphasizing ABUTH's commitment to delivering world-class healthcare services.
“The amenity wing will include a dedicated phone line and a website, where patients can view profiles of the hospital's doctors. Patients will be able to easily schedule appointments with specialists by calling the dedicated line or using the website,” he stated.
Moreover, the Chief Medical Director announced that a contract has been awarded for the acquisition of linear machines to improve cancer treatment at the facility.
Regarding efforts to curb medical tourism, Umdagas highlighted that ABUTH is equipped with a fully operational 128 Slice CT Scan machine.
He said, “If you are doing investigation abroad that requires the use of the 128 slice CT Scan, one must pay an amount not lower than $200 which is over N300,000 while ABUTH charges for such service is just N30,000”
The CMD disclosed that many patients were coming to ABUTH to do the scan, take it abroad and continue their treatments.
“We also have 1.5 Tesla MRI and 0.2 Tesla MRI machines which are high imaging machines.
“They are fully functional at the hospital and the cost for such services was far below what is being charged in other places within Nigeria.
“We also do lithotripsy at ABUTH which is breaking stones by laser instead of a surgery,’’ he said.
Mr Umdagas said the hospital had celebrated over five successful IVF cases in collaboration with its partners.
According to him, the hospital plans to build a unit that would house all the necessary equipment for IVF services in its subsequent budgets.