By Merit Ibe
The Lagos State Government, through the Office of Public-Private Partnerships (OPPP) in conjunction with the state Ministry of Health, has signed a formal agreement with the implementing partners for the commencement of construction of the proposed Medical Park complex in the state.
The proposed medical park, a 120-bed tertiary heealthcare facility, is a partnership between Lagos State Government, Ibile Holdings, Visible Assets, Afriexim Bank, Bank of Industry (BOI) and Accenture Development Partners.
Speaking at the formal agreement signing ceremony at the OPPP in Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on PPPs, Mr. Ope George, said the project entails the reconstruction of the former School of Nursing on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi into a comprehensive, qualitative medical services community, and it would sit on 2.175 hectares of land.
He said when completed, the medical park would also provide other offered spaces for primary healthcare physicians and other in-house specialists working with cutting edge technology and equipment to provide the desired full spectrum of excellent medical services to meet the needs of the citizens, particularly clients who can afford medical treatment abroad, thereby reducing the medical capital flow.
George stated further that services to be provided at the medical park include: diagnostic services, general and specialised healthcare care services for ailments like diabetes, chronic respiratory and urological ailments, among others.
He explained that the proposed medical complex was in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S development blueprint of the administration of the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and a testament of his unwavering
commitment to deliver qualitative healthcare services to the residents of Lagos State.
He said the facility would also improve the quality of life by increasing the number of people within and outside Lagos State who will be able to access better healthcare services..
George added: “This formal agreement signing is another significant milestone accomplishment by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The provision of critical infrastructure and essential services of which qualitative healthcare delivery is an integral part, has been topmost priority for this administration.”
The Special Adviser also noted that “Healthcare services are an integral part of the Lagos State Government’s THEMES agenda. The thrust of this development plan is to embark on a comprehensive reform of the health sector, which is aimed at increasing the overall capacity of the healthcare system in Lagos State thereby creating an enabling environment for the delivery of excellent healthcare services that meet international beat standards. I am happy to state that, this administration has done well in this regard.”
Speaking further, George disclosed that to underscore the seriousness of the State Government to the construction of the medical park, the government set up the Medical Village Global Development Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), to develop the Lagos’ first medical park with the intention of improving the overall capacity of Lagos state healthcare and reducing medical tourism.
He stated that the SPV comprised of two parties – Visible Assets and Ibile Holdings, adding that the project was a a 50-year lease, renewable for another 50 years.
George, while assuring of timely completion of the project, also revealed that the proposed medical park will provide spaces to physicians and specialists who can provide cutting-edge medical and diagnostic service in areas of medical, surgical, radiation oncology, interventional cardiology, women and children services, as well as surgery. In addition, the park will have residential facility, hotels, shopping malls, etc.