The Medical Director of Skipper EyeQ Super Speciality Hospitals Nigeria, Dr. Temitope Tijani, has urged the Federal Government to subsidise eye care services to make treatment more affordable for Nigerians, especially those on low incomes.
She said the government must extend funding support to both public and private health facilities to ensure that citizens could access quality eye care without travelling abroad.
Tijani, a glaucoma and cornea specialist, spoke in Abuja during the launch of the Gwarinpa branch of the hospital, which is the fourth outlet in Nigeria.
According to her, the hospital was established to reduce medical tourism.
She explained that many Nigerians were forced to spend huge sums travelling overseas for simple procedures like cataract surgery.
“This hospital was set up to cut costs and provide services locally. Government intervention through subsidies will go a long way, particularly for poor families who struggle to feed, let alone pay for treatment,” she added.
The hospital, which already has two branches in Lagos and another in Abuja, also unveiled a mobile eye clinic to deliver services directly to communities.
At the unveiling,the National President of the Nigerian Optometric Association, Dr. Anderson Chimeziri, also called for stronger government support.
He said authorities should help regulate and standardise clinics, provide solar power to reduce equipment damage from erratic electricity supply, and review tariffs under the National Health Insurance Authority.
Chimeziri noted that the low fees paid by the scheme were discouraging many practitioners from participating.
“Providers cannot even recover the cost of drugs under the current structure,” he said.
On her part, the Business Head of Skipper EyeQ Nigeria, Soumya Goel, said the organisation is committed to expanding access.
She explained that the mobile eye clinic would visit cities around Abuja and other parts of the country to conduct free screenings and treatments.
She added, “We want to make sure people have access to eye care right at their doorsteps.”
