Health Administrator and Managing Director of Potent Medicals Limited, Chief Gabriel Osemuahu Iyere spoke with Lukmon Oloyede on how his experience as a Public Health Officer in United States spurred his decision to establish an outfit to import medical and scientific equipment into Nigeria.
It is common knowledge that Nigerians offer one of the highest patronages of health facilities in India, Turkey, Germany, UK and many other parts of the world. Affluent individuals and government officials fly out of the country to seek world class medical and scientific equipment for treatment. The capital flight arising from these foreign treatments according to reports translates to about $400million annually.
While many experts believe these ailments can conveniently be treated in Nigeria at far lower costs, lack of adequate and modern medical technological equipment hinders the capability of our physicians. Rather than seating down and lamenting over the efflux of sick people abroad, the local logical solution is for the government to reform and develop the healthcare industry by investing more in terms of infrastructure and training of doctors to provide specialized care to a competitive level where tourists can also come here for treatment.
Against the backdrop of this, Chief Gabriel Osemuahu Iyere, an Edo State born Nigerian who works as a Public Health Officer in Maryland, United States has established a medical and laboratory equipment firm to make such aspiration a reality. The company, Potent Medical Limited was conceptualized and established in June 2012 in the US as a distributor for all the product lines of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of medical and laboratory products.
Barely a year after, the company was established in Nigeria and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a limited liability company. Today, the firm has become a leading importer of medical and scientific equipment in Nigeria. Having in stock products that cover the areas
of laboratory, dental and intensive care unit (ICU); X-ray machines, ultrasound scanner, electrocardiogram (ECG), optoelectronic equipment, hospital bed/furniture, reagents, rehabilitation equipment and consumables.
”Having spent 15 years in the US, I felt the kind of infrastructural and human development there can also be brought to Nigeria. So, I believe Nigeria can also benefit from this medical, laboratory, health safety and scientific equipment which Potent Medical Limited has provided. We are committed to being responsive to the needs of our clients. Our ability to challenge assumptions and provide access to trade solutions continues to win us clients after clients”, Chief Iyere, the Managing Director of the firm confidently said.
Strategically located at 12, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Oshodi bus stop, Lagos, the company has indicated its readiness to spur the Nigerian health industry by making every world class product available to both government and private hospitals, laboratories, spas and every other outlet their products are needed at relatively reasonable prices.
To get a deeper understanding of the market needs, drive innovation and build advocacy for their products, Iyere stated that the company’s aim is to serve as a bridge between manufacturers’ products and the market. His words: “Potent Medical Limited is ready to boost Nigeria’s health sector
potential by making available most of that equipment that make many Nigerians seek medical treatment abroad. This we believe will help significantly cut the huge cost of treatment and make job easier for our physicians” Having worked for 9 years in Lagos with Administrative Staff College of Nigeria
(ASCON) after Secondary School, Chief Iyere proceeded to Edo State University (now Ambrose Alli University), Ekpoma where he obtained a degree in Philosophy in 1996. In year 2000, he enrolled himself with University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC where he studied Health Care Administration and with that he had the opportunity to get a job in Maryland as a Public Health Officer.
A visit to the general hospital at Irrua, Asan Central Local Government, Edo State provoked his decision to establish Potent Medical Limited. “I visited the general hospital at Irrua in Edo State few years ago for an eye check-up but I was quite disappointed that they had no equipment to work with.
When I approached the management of the hospital, they said the government did not provide equipment. The doctors I met were very nice and hardworking but they were delivering their job without modern equipment. So, I felt this is an area I have the capacity to solve the challenge as an entrepreneur,” he revealed.
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