Healthcare is not luxury, it’s foundation of national development — Dr. Chigbu, CEO, Cassona Group
Cassona Healthcare Expands Access to Affordable Medical Equipment Across Africa
When Dr. John Chigbu, Chairman and CEO of Cassona Healthcare Group, speaks about healthcare, his words carry urgency and conviction. For him, healthcare is not a privilege—it is the foundation of national development. Through Cassona Global Imaging Ltd., his mission is clear: to make quality medical equipment accessible and affordable across Africa.
“We came to West Africa for one reason only—to bring healthcare. We want Africans to have access to affordable equipment,” Chigbu declared at the launch of Cassona Healthcare Quarterly in Lagos.
Chigbu’s model is bold yet practical. In a continent where a CT scanner can cost as much as $1 million, Cassona offers equipment at a fraction of the cost—between $230,000 and $250,000—with flexible financing. Buyers pay only 20% upfront, with the balance spread over 24 months. More importantly, Cassona takes full responsibility for maintenance.
“If the equipment fails, you can’t pay me because you’re not making money. So I make sure the equipment works every single day,” Chigbu explained.
This approach ensures uninterrupted patient care, reliable machines for doctors, and financial relief for providers. Already, Cassona has installed about 140 diagnostic imaging machines across the region and responded to more than 300 service calls, each resolved within 24 hours.
Beyond Equipment: Building Capacity
Chigbu soon realized Africa’s challenge went deeper than equipment—it was about capacity. Medical training in many countries is heavily theoretical, leaving professionals unprepared to operate modern diagnostic tools.
To close this gap, Cassona established Cassona Edge Academy, a hub for practical, hands-on training with advanced technology. The company is also setting up diagnostic “experience centers,” where doctors can send patients without the burden of owning costly machines.
“Most doctors starting out cannot afford this equipment. With our centres, they can focus on practicing medicine while we handle the technology,” Chigbu said.
Trust in Doctors
Cassona’s financing model is built on a radical but simple belief: trust in doctors. Over 90% of sales are made on credit, yet not a single provider has defaulted.
“If you spend that much time in school to become a doctor, that qualification is collateral enough,” Chigbu stated confidently, urging banks to recognize doctors as among the most responsible professionals deserving of financing.
Expanding Across West Africa
Cassona’s impact is already visible. In Ghana, the company built a fully operational hospital in just 12 months—a process that typically takes three years. With over 140 diagnostic installations in Ghana alone, Cassona is now scaling into Nigeria, Africa’s largest market.
Chigbu stressed that the company does not sell “vanity machines.” Instead, it consults with healthcare providers to ensure they acquire equipment suited to their needs. “We don’t just sell; we advise, support, and maintain,” he said.
Endorsements from States
Cassona’s innovative model has attracted praise from health officials.
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the partnership-driven approach. “When you buy equipment through Cassona, you don’t have to worry about training, servicing, or spare parts. Their job is to ensure you get the best performance—and that is commendable,” she said.
She emphasized that Lagos State’s PPP framework under the THEMES Plus Agenda recognizes that government cannot shoulder healthcare delivery alone. Partnerships with firms like Cassona, she added, ensure “quality diagnosis leads to quality treatment.”
Similarly, Abia State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, hailed Cassona’s rapid growth, noting that in just three years, it has equipped more than 130 medical centres across West Africa.
“This American-based diagnostic company is bridging the gap in radiodiagnostics, and we are proud to partner with them,” Uche said. He highlighted Abia’s progress under Governor Alex Otti, which includes equipping 50 primary healthcare centres in two weeks, describing Cassona as a natural ally in the push for universal health coverage.
The Bigger Picture
For Chigbu, the mission goes beyond profit. “We haven’t even made money yet, because we sell on credit. But we believe in the responsibility of Nigerian healthcare providers. You can build all the roads and infrastructure you want, but without health and education, no nation can attract true investment. Our greatest asset is human capital, and you maintain human capital through health.”
With its blend of affordability, reliability, training, and trust, Cassona Healthcare is redefining how Africa accesses life-saving medical technology.