The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local content in the production and deployment of diagnostic technologies as part of ongoing reforms to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this known in his keynote address at the 2026 National Summit on Diagnostics, themed “Strengthening Partnerships and Local Content for Integrated Diagnostics,” held in Abuja.
Dr. Salako described diagnostics as the foundation of modern healthcare, stressing that strengthening diagnostic capacity is not merely a technical requirement but a strategic investment in the efficiency, credibility, and overall performance of the nation’s health system.
The Minister said accurate and timely diagnosis remains critical for disease prevention, early detection, effective treatment, and continuous patient monitoring.
“Globally, a significant proportion of clinical decisions rely on diagnostic results, underscoring the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s diagnostic landscape to make it resilient, sustainable, and capable of delivering improved health outcomes for all citizens”.
According to him, a well-integrated and coordinated diagnostic system is essential for quality healthcare delivery across all levels of care, from primary healthcare centres in rural communities to tertiary hospitals in major cities.
Dr. Salako explained that strengthening the diagnostics ecosystem goes beyond providing infrastructure, noting that it also requires strong governance, effective partnerships, a skilled workforce, functional laboratory networks, robust regulatory oversight, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
Local innovation
He further highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting local content development in the health sector, particularly in the manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance of diagnostic equipment as well as in-vitro diagnostic products.
The minister said investment in local innovation and domestic production of diagnostic technologies would not only improve national health security but also stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and position Nigeria as a regional leader in healthcare solutions.
Dr. Salako reaffirmed that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the transformation of the nation’s health sector remains a key national priority, with diagnostics occupying a strategic position in the reform agenda.
He assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would continue to advance policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening laboratory services across the country, citing the implementation and periodic review of the National Essential Diagnostics List as a critical component of the reform efforts.
Collaboration
The Minister also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, stating that the success of Nigeria’s diagnostic ecosystem will depend largely on effective partnerships among government institutions, development partners, research institutions, professional bodies, the private sector, and local innovators.
Dr. Salako announced that the National Summit on Diagnostics would henceforth be institutionalised as an annual platform to promote partnerships, encourage local content development, and advance integrated diagnostic services across the country.
He was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom,
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Adeola Adegoke, described diagnostics as the backbone of clinical decision-making and public health response.
She noted that more than 70 percent of medical decisions globally rely on diagnostic results, emphasising that ensuring accessible, reliable, and high-quality diagnostic services across all levels of healthcare is essential for improving patient outcomes and safeguarding national health security.
While acknowledging the progress made in expanding laboratory and diagnostic capacity across the country, she pointed out that challenges such as infrastructure gaps, workforce shortages, supply chain constraints, and inequitable access to services still persist.
She stressed that addressing these challenges would require stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, academia, and the private sector.
Also speaking at the summit, the Executive Director of the KNCV TB Foundation, Gidado Mustapha, in a presentation titled “From Fragmentation to Integration: Building a Partnership-Driven Diagnostic Ecosystem for Nigeria’s Health System and Quality of Care,” called for the enforcement of a national diagnostics integration framework.
He emphasised the importance of expanding access to diagnostic services at primary healthcare facilities nationwide, noting that improved access to diagnostics would significantly enhance healthcare delivery and enable early detection of diseases.
The summit also featured the unveiling of the National Guideline for the Implementation of Medical Laboratory Quality Management System, with participants drawn from within and outside Nigeria.