By Itohan Abara-Laserian
The Kasi Healthcare Aeromedical Unit has agreed to provide ambulance, medical escort and ground handling services in a partnership agreement between Kasi Healthcare and Memorial Hospital Group, Turkey.
The Medical Director of Kasi Healthcare, Dr Adedayo Osholowu, who disclosed this at a press conference on Monday in Lagos, said that the partnership would advance healthcare in Nigeria as both institutions were committed to elevating the standard of care for Nigerian patients.
He said that the partnership would introduce innovative surgical techniques and state-of-the-art medical equipment designed to improve patient outcomes and the overall quality of care available to Nigerians.
According to him, a key part of the partnership is provision of free second opinion and specialised medical check-up packages for Nigerian patients.
Osholowu said that this would give patients access to thorough medical evaluations and alternative care options in one of Turkey’s most prestigious healthcare facilities, ensuring they would receive the best possible treatment.
“Kasi Healthcare Aeromedical Unit will support the partnership with air ambulance and medical escort and ground handling services from its Lagos Airport Clinic located at the Private Terminal of the Lagos International Airport.
“The clinic will also host visiting specialists from Memorial Hospital on a monthly basis offering specialist second opinion and training courses for Nigerian providers.
“We are excited to partner with Memorial Hospital, Turkey, in our shared mission to improve healthcare services in Nigeria.
“Under this partnership, we immediately launched the Kasi Healthcare International Clinic, offering medical second opinion and medical tourism facilitation services for the aeromedical and offshore sector to complement our air ambulance and medical escort business in West Africa.
“Most exciting is the monthly visiting specialist from Memorial Hospital seeing patients directly in the Nigerian market and virtually through our telemedicine programme,” he said.
Prof. Mehmet Aydogan of Spinal Health Center, Memorial Group, Turkey, said that aviation had peculiarities and needed specific attention for specific health issues.
He said: “Aviation needs something special for patient tourism.
“For example, the aviation sector has to improve to be able to deal with specific problems for the patients, because if you want to carry a bedridden patient, you need some special organisation.
“If you carry an intensive care unit patient, I mean an unconscious patient, you need something special, and you have to improve your service also according to the patient’s needs; hence, this collaboration,” he said.
The Country Administrator, Memorial Hospital Group, Turkey, Dr Zainab Bashir, who represented the Africa Regional Manager, Dr Musa Umar, said that as much as aviation industry workers were paramount, the lives of every Nigerian also mattered.
Bashir said that Nigerians often suffered from wrong diagnosis and considered medical tourism to treat ailments that could be treated in the country.
“This collaboration highlights Memorial Hospital Turkey’s dedication to enhancing healthcare in Nigeria.
“By combining our expertise with Kasi’s, we aim to provide quality medical support, improve access to top-tier healthcare services, and strengthen the health of our communities.
“Through free consultations, medical training and partnerships with government and private organisations, hospitals, schools, NGOs and others, we are united in our mission to improve quality of healthcare in Nigeria,” she said.
Kasi is a designated aeromedical provider by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and a licensed medical provider registered with the Ministry of Health and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Memorial Hospital Group is a Turkish firm offering full range of medical services covering 41 branches of medicine.