Nigeria and China are set to deepen health cooperation in medical technology, artificial intelligence, hospital development, diagnostics, digital health, health workforce development and local manufacturing.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this while delivering Nigeria’s ministerial remarks at the 32nd China International Medical Equipment Exhibition and Scientific Conference (China-HOSPEQ 2026) at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing.
Salako said Nigeria was committed to moving its health partnership with China beyond traditional trade relations to strategic collaboration capable of improving health outcomes.
He noted that China-HOSPEQ provided opportunities for dialogue, innovation, knowledge exchange and investment, adding that the Nigerian Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was prioritising stronger primary healthcare, affordable and quality healthcare, expanded diagnostic and specialised services, digital health transformation, health workforce development and local production of medicines, medical devices and diagnostics.
According to him, Nigeria-China health cooperation had expanded to areas including hospital development, medical equipment procurement and maintenance, pharmaceutical manufacturing, diagnostics, research, workforce training, and traditional and phytomedicine.
The minister, however, stressed that sustainable health-system transformation could not be achieved through equipment provision alone. He urged partners to ensure the deployment of appropriate technologies, adequate training, maintenance systems, quality assurance and effective integration into national health systems.
Salako called for deeper collaboration in digital health and artificial intelligence, laboratory medicine, technology transfer, local manufacturing, clinical engineering, research and health emergency preparedness.
He said global challenges such as pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, emerging infections and climate-related health threats required coordinated international action.
The minister urged participants at China-HOSPEQ 2026 to translate the opportunities provided by the conference into practical partnerships and sustainable investments.
“Let us move from exhibition to implementation, from innovation to impact, and from partnership to sustainable capacity,” he said.
