The Chief Medical Director of Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital (AMSH), Dr. Akinola Akinmade, has stated that former President Muhammadu Buhari might have survived if he had received medical attention at their advanced facility located in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Dr. Akinmade expressed deep confidence in the capabilities of AMSH, highlighting its cutting-edge technology, globally competitive infrastructure, and a team of highly trained Nigerian and international medical professionals. According to him, the hospital would have spared no effort in providing life-saving care to the late former president.
“Our hospital is built to global standards. We fight for every life, and if we had been the ones attending to President Buhari, we would have done everything in our power to keep him alive and functional,” Dr. Akinmade said.
He made the remarks in reaction to a recent statement by Femi Adesina, the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, who had disclosed that the late leader likely would not have survived had he remained in Nigeria for treatment. In contrast, Dr. Akinmade believes the country now has facilities capable of handling even the most complex health cases—AMSH being a prime example.
Dr. Akinmade used the opportunity to criticize the ongoing trend of medical tourism among Nigerian elites, especially politicians, describing it as a failure to recognize and support high-quality medical infrastructure available within the country. He expressed disappointment that, despite the presence of world-class hospitals like AMSH, many continue to travel abroad for treatment.
He cited the hospital’s notable progress, including its recent formal partnership with Marengo Asia Hospitals, a prominent healthcare group based in India, to expand surgical and specialized treatment offerings within Nigeria. “Late last year, under the visionary leadership of our founder, we entered into a collaboration with Marengo Asia Hospitals. This partnership aims to deepen surgical excellence and bring a wider range of life-saving procedures to our local facility,” he stated.
Highlighting AMSH’s accomplishments, Dr. Akinmade revealed that the hospital had successfully performed nine kidney transplant surgeries since the collaboration began. These surgeries were carried out by a combined team of Indian and Nigerian doctors, demonstrating the hospital’s capacity to handle delicate and high-risk procedures.
He also emphasized the strength of AMSH’s Renal Centre, which currently operates 27 modern dialysis machines, including specially dedicated units for patients with infectious diseases like hepatitis. With over 400 dialysis sessions conducted monthly, AMSH now operates one of the busiest and most comprehensive renal care programmes in the country.
The hospital’s excellence in healthcare delivery has not gone unnoticed. AMSH recently received a prestigious award from the National Healthcare Excellence Awards Group for “Redefining Standards in Hospital Management, Clinical Delivery, Patient Experience and Innovation within Nigeria’s Healthcare System.”
Dr. Akinmade credited this achievement to the vision and patriotic commitment of the hospital’s founder, renowned legal scholar and philanthropist Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), whose mission is to provide Nigerians of all socioeconomic backgrounds with access to top-tier medical care.
“Our hospitals must be able to care for our people. We can’t keep running outside the country for health care,” he insisted. “It is important for us to develop our capabilities here at home, and these things don’t happen overnight. They require sustained investment, commitment, and belief in local talent and infrastructure.”
In addition to medical advancements, Dr. Akinmade called on the government to urgently rehabilitate the Ado-Ijan Road, which he described as a vital lifeline for emergency transportation, logistics, and hospital operations. He warned that the deteriorating condition of the road poses significant risks to patient safety and the effectiveness of healthcare delivery in the region.
He concluded by reaffirming AMSH’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class healthcare, training the next generation of medical professionals, and driving continuous innovation to meet the changing health needs of Nigerians. According to him, institutions like AMSH are proof that Nigeria can indeed build a healthcare system that commands global respect—if only it receives the support it truly deserves.