Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nigeria is no exception. Conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure are on the rise, fuelled by lifestyle changes, urbanisation, and limited access to preventive healthcare.
Without timely intervention, these diseases can lead to severe complications, placing a significant burden on individuals and the healthcare system.
Specialised hospitals are crucial in combating this growing crisis by providing advanced diagnostics, expert cardiology care, and life-saving cardiovascular/thoracic surgical interventions.
From routine heart check-ups to complex procedures like open-heart surgery and cardiac catheterisations, these hospitals serve as critical centres for improving patient outcomes and reducing CVD-related fatalities in Nigeria.
In this article, we highlight the top five cardiovascular hospitals in Nigeria, recognised for their excellence in cardiovascular care.
Whether through groundbreaking procedures, state-of-the-art facilities, or highly skilled specialists, these hospitals are setting the standard for cardiovascular treatment in the country.
Top 5 Cardiovascular Hospitals in Nigeria
There are over 200 tertiary healthcare facilities catering to cardiovascular health around Nigeria.
So, identifying the top 5 cardiovascular facilities was no easy feat. However, we looked at the following criteria:
- Availability of specialised cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery units and specialists (from cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac physicians, cardiac nurses, cardiac physiologists and other advanced cardiovascular/thoracic healthcare professionals).
- Reputation and success rates in cardiothoracic procedures (open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterisations, etc.).
- Access to advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)—Public
LASUTH is a state-owned healthcare facility located in the heart of Lagos. It serves as the teaching hospital for Lagos State University (LASU).
Emerging from a cottage hospital formed in 1955, it became a teaching hospital in 2001.
Since then, the LASUTH cardiovascular department has grown to encompass a well-developed medical and surgical component–the Cardiology Unit and the Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Unit (CTSU).
With a robust team of specialists, including cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, cardiothoracic nurses and cardiac anaesthetists, LASUTH ensures good patient outcomes.
The renowned department has been conducting open heart surgeries since 2004. It is now one of the leading cardiovascular medical and surgical facilities.
Between 2004 and 2021 alone, LASUTH performed over 100 cardiac surgeries, averaging eight annually. There is hope that the annual average will increase while the hospital continues to do its best for its patients.
The university hospital boasts a state-of-the-art cardio-thoracic centre featuring advanced diagnostic tools such as echocardiography machines, cardiac catheterisation labs, and modern operating theatres for complex heart surgeries. With a mix of talent and tools, they can provide top-notch advanced cardiothoracic care for patients.
Reddington Hospital, Lagos—Private
Reddington Hospital is a privately owned healthcare facility on Victoria Island in Lagos. It began as a cardiac centre in 2001 in association with the Cromwell Hospital in London, then became its facility in 2006. The hospital has a host of reputable medical and surgical cardiac specialists on rotation to provide patient care.
As a multi-specialist facility, specialists in other fields are available, so complications of cardiac conditions requiring multidisciplinary care can also be attended to. Known for performing the first angioplasty in Nigeria, Reddington has been a pacesetter in cardiovascular care.
In 2020, it successfully performed its first complex open heart surgery, marking a significant milestone in its cardiac services.
The Reddington Cardiac Centre is a comprehensive facility equipped with the latest technology for surgery and intervention, including 64-slice CT scanners for coronary angiography, digital catheterisation laboratories, and facilities for minimally invasive cardiac procedures.
Lagos Executive Cardiovascular Centre (LECC)—Private
Lagos Executive Cardiovascular Centre was founded in 2016 by Dr Folasade Alli, a consultant cardiologist with over 30 years of experience. Launching its operations in 2017, it is one of the newer private facilities in Nigeria.
Despite its comparative youth, the LECC team—a group of highly trained cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other specialists—works collaboratively to deliver top-tier cardiovascular care.
They provide a wide range of services for cardiac care, especially non-invasive and interventional cardiology.
Recording over 300 surgeries, over 200 cardiac procedures and over 16,000 non-invasive procedures, LECC is on this list for a reason.
The hospital is renowned for its excellence in preventive cardiology and heart disease management, helping many patients manage chronic cardiovascular conditions and prevent complications.
LECC operates “round-the-clock-care” cardiovascular care with advanced diagnostic tools, including echocardiography, stress testing, Holter monitoring, and a fully equipped catheterisation lab for interventional procedures.
University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan—Public
University College Hospital, Ibadan, is a federal teaching hospital with a well-established legacy in Nigeria. Its Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS) division is one of the earliest divisions of the hospital’s surgical unit, just as cardiology, its medical counterpart, pioneered the department of medicine alongside other specialities.
UCH has a dedicated cardiac care unit that provides both medical and surgical interventions, such as vascular surgery and cardiothoracic surgeries. As one of the most prestigious training centres, it also serves as a hub for the best and brightest future cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons.
As one of Nigeria’s premier teaching hospitals, UCH pioneered open heart surgeries in Nigeria. It has since performed numerous successful heart surgeries, cardiac catheterisations, and interventional procedures, making it a leader in cardiovascular treatment.
The hospital is equipped with advanced echocardiography machines, a cardiac catheterisation lab, and state-of-the-art operation theatres, allowing it to provide comprehensive cardiac care.
First Cardiology Consultants (FCC), Lagos—Private
First Cardiology Consultants is one of Nigeria’s most advanced private cardiac care centres, offering world-class treatment for heart diseases. FCC has a highly specialised cardiology department with a team of over 300 expert cardiologists, nurses, and cardiothoracic surgeons who provide high-quality care.
FCC has established itself as a leader in cardiac interventions, with over 5,000 surgeries conducted, including complex heart surgeries, pacemaker implantations, and angioplasties, and it performs a wide range of non-invasive procedures.
The centre is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including cardiac MRI, CT scanning, catheterisation labs, and facilities for both invasive and non-invasive heart procedures.
Challenges And Future Prospects
Despite the presence of these top-tier cardiovascular hospitals, Nigeria still faces significant challenges in providing accessible and affordable cardiovascular/thoracic care to affected populations.
It’s important to acknowledge these challenges to work towards a solution.
Some of the major issues include:
- Limited Access to Affordable Cardiovascular Care: Many specialised heart hospitals are concentrated in major cities, making it difficult for rural populations to access care. Even when they do, the bill is a second mountain, as most people pay out-of-pocket for healthcare in Nigeria.
- The Need for More Government Investment: Public hospitals require sufficient funding to improve their facilities and expand their capacity for cardiovascular treatment. With non-communicable diseases causing great harm to society, this investment will help public and private healthcare hospitals expand services and serve more people.
- Ongoing Efforts to Improve Nigeria’s Cardiac Healthcare Infrastructure: Initiatives are being made to enhance cardiac care, including partnerships with international organisations and increased local training for heart specialists.
Conclusion
These top 5 cardiovascular hospitals in Nigeria stand out for their commitment to improving cardiovascular health in Nigeria.
Through their advanced diagnostic tools, pioneering heart procedures, and expert medical teams, they can offer world-class cardiac care to citizens.
However, there is still a need for continued investment in cardiac health services to make quality cardiovascular care more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.
For patients seeking high-quality heart care, these institutions provide some of the best options available in Nigeria, ensuring better health outcomes and improved quality of life.
