In order to improve the country’s healthcare service system, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare has urged for an integration of diagnostic services.
The Minister also said a well-integrated diagnostic framework is pivotal for an efficient and responsive healthcare delivery.
“This is not only vital for clinical decision-making but, for disease surveillance, health data management, and ensuring timely interventions, Dr. Iziaq Salako said at a 3-day National Summit on Diagnostics, held on Tuesday, in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Themed ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value Chains and Improving Universal Health Coverage through Integrated Diagnostic Services’, the first day of the Summit had in attendance stakeholders that spoke on the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s diagnostic landscape.
“The goal should be how to integrate diagnostic services into the broader healthcare value chain to enhance efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs”, Mr. Salako stressed.
The Minister said the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Nigeria’s Healthcare Value Chain is a strategic to the accomplishment of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which has the potential to save foreign exchange, create millions of jobs, reduce cost of care, reduce outbound medical tourism and ultimately improve the health status of Nigerians and the economy of the country.
“Diagnostics, with its unique cost recoverable attribute, has a big role to play in this agenda, Dr. Salako continued.
He challenged participants at the summit to explore practical and implementable strategies that can help the West African nation become a global hub for healthcare manufacturing within the next half-decade. He encouraged government agencies, international development partners, private sector actors, and professional associations to ensure continuous integration of diagnostic services into Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system, using multiple technologies and optimising the contribution of all diagnostic professionals.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom in her speech read by Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, the Director of Hospital Services, said diagnostics are instrumental to the development of healthcare delivery, and has influenced over 70% of medical decisions.
She said the summit is a platform to evaluate progress, identify obstacles, and formulate actionable strategies aimed at transforming the diagnostic landscape in Nigeria.
“Over the next few days, we will engage in technical presentations, interactive panel discussions, and exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge diagnostic technologies”, Kachallom said.
“These sessions will highlight emerging trends and advancements, also reinforce the critical role of diagnostics in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and national healthcare security”, she added.
The Summit is expected to run from Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th, March, 2025.