The Federal Government has identified medical diagnostics as a critical component of Nigeria’s healthcare system, stressing the need to strengthen local production, quality control and market development.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open the 28th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors.
Salako, who was represented by the Director and Head of the Medical Laboratory Services Division in the ministry, Dr Emeka Elom, said timely and accurate medical testing was essential to effective healthcare delivery, disease surveillance and informed public health decisions.
He said Nigeria’s pursuit of diagnostic independence should go beyond simply manufacturing medical tests locally.
According to him, the country must improve its capacity in technology transfer, research and innovation, regulation, procurement and partnerships to guarantee Nigerians access to reliable and affordable diagnostic services.
Focus on Diagnostic Independence
The National President of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors, Dr Samuel Fele, also called for a reduction in Nigeria’s dependence on imported diagnostic reagents, equipment and consumables.
Fele said the theme of the conference, “From Diagnostic Sovereignty to Market Readiness: Building Nigeria’s End-to-End Diagnostics Ecosystem,” reflected the urgent need to develop a sustainable domestic diagnostics industry.
He said the challenge was no longer simply whether Nigeria could manufacture diagnostic products, but whether the country could create an industry capable of producing quality-assured products competitively for both domestic and African markets.
Fele noted that Nigeria’s long-standing reliance on imported diagnostic materials had limited opportunities for local industrial growth and employment.
He pointed to the African in-vitro diagnostics market, valued at $1.33 billion in 2024, as evidence of the commercial opportunities available to Nigerian manufacturers as demand for rapid and point-of-care testing continues to grow.
However, he warned that increasing local production must not result in a reduction in quality.
He called for a comprehensive system linking research, innovation, manufacturing, regulation, quality assurance, distribution, laboratories, healthcare providers, patients and health data.
Call for Stronger Regulation
Fele stressed that weaknesses in any part of the diagnostic supply chain could undermine the entire system.
He therefore advocated stronger quality-management systems, regulatory supervision, proficiency testing and compliance with recognised standards.
He also called for government policies that would provide manufacturers with access to financing, infrastructure, research support and predictable procurement arrangements.
According to him, local manufacturers need dependable demand for their products if domestic production is to remain commercially sustainable.
Fele urged stakeholders to move from repeated discussions about import dependence to practical measures capable of building a functioning domestic diagnostics industry.
Experts Seek Market for Local Products
Prof. Oyewale Tomori, a renowned virologist and Chairman of Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, said creating a viable market would be essential to sustaining locally produced diagnostic products.
Tomori argued that manufacturers need a clear understanding of the needs of the Nigerian market and must develop products that respond to those requirements.
He also expressed concern about the challenges that have slowed Nigeria’s efforts to develop domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity, calling for institutional obstacles to be addressed.
Patient Welfare Remains Central
The keynote speaker, Dr Mustapha Gidado, Executive Director of the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, said the ultimate purpose of diagnostic independence should be improving outcomes for patients.
Gidado explained that diagnostic sovereignty should not necessarily mean producing every laboratory instrument, reagent or component within Nigeria.
Instead, he said the country should have sufficient capacity to determine its diagnostic needs, evaluate available technologies and ensure that the products used meet acceptable quality standards.
He cautioned that the push for local manufacturing should never be used as a justification for lowering standards.
Gidado also advocated the development of an integrated national diagnostic network that would allow patients, samples and test results to move efficiently through the healthcare system.
He said predictable demand would also be necessary to encourage investors to commit resources to domestic manufacturing.
Lessons From Lassa Fever Investigation
Medical laboratory scientist Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor recalled an investigation he conducted with Tomori into unexplained deaths in an Edo community, which eventually led to the identification of Lassa fever.
He said the experience illustrated the crucial role medical laboratories play in identifying infectious diseases and responding to emerging public health threats.
Agbonlahor also appealed for greater unity within the medical laboratory profession, saying internal divisions have affected professional relationships.
The conference attracted medical laboratory professionals, researchers, policymakers, regulators, manufacturers and other stakeholders who examined issues including local production, regulation, quality assurance, procurement and access to diagnostic services.
The Federal Government’s emphasis on diagnostic capacity comes as Nigeria seeks to reduce dependence on imported healthcare products while strengthening domestic manufacturing and preparedness for public health emergencies.
