Healthcare experts have demanded stronger medical systems and concrete plans to close Nigeria's diagnostic gaps. They made this call at the World Health Expo in Lagos last week.
The three-day trade and innovation platform, formerly called Medic West Africa, brought together industry leaders and policymakers. The event showcased new medical technologies and solutions.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health Akin Abayomi spoke on medical technology's future during the expo. He stressed that Nigeria must collect quality local data to fuel homegrown innovation.
Abayomi highlighted the enforcement of the National Health Insurance Authority Act in Lagos as a major win. The legislation requires all residents to have health insurance coverage.
"This moves healthcare to the heart of our economy," Abayomi told the gathering. Government must set standards and build trust for both patients and providers, he added.
Felix Ofungwu, CEO of ISN Medical, stressed diagnosis as the foundation of good treatment. Without accurate diagnosis, patients cannot receive proper care, he noted.
ISN Medical has spent nearly five decades supplying diagnostic solutions to healthcare providers across Africa. The company helps doctors identify disease conditions accurately.
Ofungwu revealed that ISN is now venturing into precision and personalized medicine. The firm recently partnered with Illumina, a global DNA sequencing leader, he said.
"Using their technology, we can predict disease before symptoms appear," Ofungwu explained. It's a game-changer for patient outcomes, according to him.
Aliko Ahmed, Special Regional Representative at the Africa CDC's Western Regional Centre, delivered the keynote address. He reflected on lessons from the Ebola and COVID-19 crises.
These pandemics exposed serious weaknesses in Africa's health systems, Ahmed acknowledged. But they also opened massive opportunities within global health structures, he said.
External funding alone won't deliver sustainable health security for Nigeria and Africa, Ahmed warned. African nations must build self-reliance in healthcare, he stressed.
Ahmed called on the Africa CDC to champion trust in locally made health products. Regional leaders must adopt trade policies that align with the African Continental Free Trade Area, he urged.
Such policies will help Africa shape its own health agenda, according to Ahmed. Countries must prioritize continental partnerships over external dependency.
The expo featured dozens of accredited forums and product showcases. High-level networking sessions connected investors, hospitals, and health technology firms.
Organizers designed the event to convert billions in public and private investment into real access for hospitals. Patients across Nigeria need these technologies urgently, stakeholders agreed.
