Nigerian government Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Diagnostics

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening diagnostic services as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s healthcare system and a key driver of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

 

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Speaking at the maiden National Summit on Diagnostics held in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, emphasized that accurate and accessible diagnostics are essential for disease detection, treatment planning, and patient monitoring.

He warned that without a strong diagnostic framework, the country’s healthcare goals including the four pillars of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative would be difficult to achieve.

The summit, themed “Unlocking Healthcare Value Chains and Improving Universal Health Coverage through Integrated Diagnostic Services,” provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies for harmonizing and standardizing diagnostic services across all levels of healthcare.

Dr. Salako highlighted the need to eliminate fragmentation, improve efficiency, and optimize resource utilization to ensure wider access to quality diagnostics, particularly in underserved communities.

Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister stressed the importance of a resilient diagnostic system that not only meets routine healthcare needs but also enhances national health security and pandemic preparedness.

He called for better integration of diagnostic services within the healthcare value chain to improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

Dr. Salako also underscored the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, a strategic element of the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at boosting local healthcare manufacturing, reducing medical tourism, creating jobs, and saving foreign exchange.

He urged stakeholders to develop actionable strategies that would position Nigeria as a global hub for healthcare diagnostics and manufacturing within the next five years.

The minister called on government agencies, international partners, private sector players, and professional bodies to work together in expanding diagnostic services by leveraging multiple technologies.

 

 

He also emphasized the need for teamwork, mutual respect, and professional cooperation to ensure high-quality healthcare delivery.

As Nigeria moves forward in strengthening its healthcare system, Dr. Salako reaffirmed the government’s dedication to unlocking the full potential of diagnostics to transform healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for all Nigerians.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, FMoHSW, Daju Kachollom mni, represented by the Director Hospital Services Department, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh mni, emphasized the critical role of diagnostics in healthcare delivery.

He noted that over 70% of medical decisions depend on accurate diagnostics, making it a cornerstone for effective treatment and improved health outcomes.

Highlighting the them, Dr. Jimoh urged participants to maximize the networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities presented by the summit, emphasising that interactive panel discussions, technical presentations, and exhibitions of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies would help shape a more integrated and innovative diagnostic ecosystem.

In his key note address, a Nigerian professor of virology, educational administrator, and former vice chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Professor Oyewale Tomori highlights the need for sustainable public health infrastructure, stressing that building labs alone is not enough without continuous funding, staffing, and resources.

He urges the NCDC to focus more on research and prevention rather than just diagnostics, questioning why only a fraction of suspected disease cases are confirmed.

Strengthening local laboratory systems, he argues, would improve disease detection and response.

He calls for decentralizing diagnostics, citing the U.S. CDC as a model where local governments handle basic testing. Nigeria, he says, must empower states and local labs to reduce dependence on the NCDC.

Beyond government action, Tomori stresses the role of private industry, researchers, and citizens in strengthening healthcare. He urges the government to create an enabling environment for private-sector investment and calls on citizens to demand better healthcare.

He highlights the need for scientists and communication experts to collaborate in making research impactful.