The Presidency on Tuesday evening defended the two week medical trip of the President,  Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), saying it would be unwise to keep changing doctors every year.

 

Buhari departed the country for the United Kingdom on Tuesday afternoon in one of the presidential fleet through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

 

Recall that presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, earlier stated that Buhari will see a doctor during his stay in the UK and will return to the country in the second week of April.

 

The news of the trip has generated backlash amid an impending strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors billed for April 1.

 

However, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, reiterated that the president is not a medical tourist.

 

“I think there is a misconception of the President’s trip seen in the context of medical tourism. President Buhari is not a medical tourist.

 

“If someone has kept retainership with medical experts, you are talking about 30 years and plus to examine you and they give you a pass. Would you be changing your doctors every other year because there is a chance that the distance will be shortened? No. I think that the President is wise and quite correct in his decision that he retains some set of doctors who have insured good health for himself.”