Why Diagnostics Hold the Key To Nigeria’s Health Reform – Salako Speaks At National Summit
In modern medicine, the difference between life and death often begins with a diagnosis. Without accurate tests and reliable laboratory systems, doctors are forced to treat patients in the dark.
It is this reality that has placed diagnostics at the centre of Nigeria’s ongoing health reforms.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has described diagnostics as the foundation of modern healthcare, stressing that strengthening the country’s diagnostic capacity is a strategic investment in the performance and credibility of the health system.
Speaking at the 2026 National Summit on Diagnostics in Abuja, themed “Strengthening Partnerships and Local Content for Integrated Diagnostics,” Salako said accurate and timely diagnosis is essential for disease prevention, early detection, effective treatment and continuous patient monitoring.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, the Minister said the summit’s theme highlights the urgency of transforming Nigeria’s diagnostic landscape into one that is resilient, sustainable and capable of delivering improved health outcomes.
“A well-integrated and coordinated diagnostic system is indispensable for quality healthcare delivery,” Salako said, noting that access to reliable diagnostic services enables healthcare providers to make informed decisions that improve patient outcomes and optimise resources.
According to him, strengthening the diagnostics ecosystem goes beyond infrastructure and requires effective governance, skilled manpower, strong partnerships, functional laboratory networks, regulatory oversight and sustainable financing.
He also emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to local content development in the health sector, including the manufacturing, distribution and maintenance of diagnostic equipment and in-vitro diagnostic products.
Salako explained that investing in local innovation and production will not only strengthen national health security but also stimulate economic growth, create jobs and position Nigeria as a regional leader in healthcare solutions.
He reaffirmed that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, transforming Nigeria’s health sector remains a national priority, with diagnostics occupying a strategic place in the reform agenda.
In her welcome remarks, Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Adeola Adegoke, said diagnostics remain the backbone of clinical decision-making and public health response, noting that over 70 per cent of medical decisions globally rely on diagnostic results.
While acknowledging progress in expanding Nigeria’s laboratory capacity, she said challenges such as infrastructure gaps, workforce shortages and supply chain constraints still persist.
“These challenges require stronger partnerships across government, development partners, academia and the private sector,” she added.
Also speaking at the summit, Dr Gidado Mustapha, Executive Director of the KNCV TB Foundation in The Hague, called for the enforcement of a national diagnostics integration framework and improved access to diagnostic services at primary healthcare facilities nationwide to enhance early disease detection.
The summit also witnessed the unveiling of the National Guideline for the Implementation of Medical Laboratory Quality Management System, a policy document aimed at strengthening laboratory standards and improving service delivery across the country.
Participants at the event were drawn from Nigeria and several international organisations involved in health systems strengthening.
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