To reduce the cost of healthcare services in the country, a Nigerian firm has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese company to supply critical medical equipment worth over $21 million to enhance healthcare delivery in the country.

The equipment includes; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) which are necessary for medical check-ups among others.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, shortly after signing the MoU, a deputy director of Sky Medical Limited, Hamza Nma Ndawuya, said the availability of medical equipment in the country will also discourage medical tourism outside the country.

According to Ndawuya, “We have few hospitals with this equipment in the country and now with our partners, we are not only bringing this equipment, but our efforts will also help to reduce problems Nigerians are facing in terms of healthcare services. Like the MRI, when you check, the entire country has about five or six of the machines.

“We here to sign an agreement, MoU with a Chinese Company. We want to supply equipment to Nigerian hospitals; government hospitals and private hospitals. We already have hospitals that have shown interest in acquiring the MRI.

“We are expecting the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed Tomography), and other critical equipment that are not in our hospitals. We have requested, we have given them a request list and they have worked on it and by the next two months, the equipment is going to be in Nigeria.

“So, now we are coming with five more of the MRI machines. This equipment is crucial for checking the human system and it is very important for Cancer and other ailments. For the CT machines, we are bringing not less than five and other equipment will be made available to boost the country’s healthcare delivery.”

Ndawuya assured prospective customers that the company has after-sale service to ensure the effective maintenance of the equipment, adding that after installation, comprehensive training will be provided while the company will carry out checks on the equipment every two months.

Also speaking, the representative of the Chinese firm, a director, Mr. Wang Yang, confirmed the partnership, adding that his company was happy about the development.

Yang said: “I’m glad to be here and complete the transaction. We will continue to try our best to support the professional and technical medical services in Nigeria through partnership with this company.”