The Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Deda Hospital, Abuja, Dr Sunday Omale Onuh, has called for the reduction of import duty on In vitro fertilisation (IVF) equipment and medications.
He made the call in Abuja during the celebration of the 11th anniversary of the hospital and launch of the latest Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at its radiography unit.
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He also enjoined the federal government to include IVF and other forms of fertility treatments in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
While noting that doing so was important to make the cost of IVF and other fertility treatments affordable for Nigerians, he said, “The major challenge we have is high import duties, because we are practically a consumer nation. We do not produce most of the things we use, particularly for IVF, and even general medical practice.
“So, one way government can come in and help the masses is to reduce import duties and also make forex available. If they are reduced, the costs will also go down for the consumer.”