As the inaugural National Diagnostic Summit opens in Abuja on Tuesday, the Federal Government has restated the critical role of diagnostics in delivering an efficient, effective, and responsive health system with the capacity to reduce healthcare costs.
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, revealed when he addressed stakeholders/participants at the opening ceremony of the Summit, which was held at the Continental Hotel in Abuja.
Themed "Unlocking Healthcare Value Chains and Improving Universal Health Coverage through Integrated Diagnostic Services.".
The National Summit on Diagnostics, Dr. Salako stated, presented an opportunity for participants to deeply discuss the central role of diagnostics in healthcare services from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.
He said " As we know, the healthcare value chain encompasses all components that contribute to the delivery of healthcare services, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.
At the heart of this system lie diagnostic services, which serve as a cornerstone for accurate disease detection, effective treatment planning, and continuous patient monitoring.".
Furthermore, the Minister explained that as a platform for assessing success stories, challenges, and recommendations to standardise diagnostic services across primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels, the goal should be how to integrate diagnostic services into the broader healthcare value chain.
The outcome, according to him, is to enhance efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
While recounting the economic value of the Presidential initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain as well as reducing medical tourism, Dr. Salako emphasized the critical role of diagnostics in this agenda, saying it has a unique cost-recoverable attribute.
"Let me therefore challenge all participants at this Summit to take participation beyond just a mere talkshop, coming up with practical, implementable strategies that can help Nigeria become a hub for healthcare manufacturing within the next half a decade," the Minister asserted.
To this end, he urged government agencies, international development partners, private sector actors, and professional associations to ensure continuous integration of diagnostic services into our healthcare delivery system through multiple technologies.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom mni emphasized the fundamental and critical role of diagnostics in effective healthcare delivery, pointing out that it influenced over 70% of medical decisions.
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Opening ceremony National of Inaugural National Summit on Diagnostics @ the Continental Hotel, Abuja |
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Represented by Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh mni, Director Hospital Services Department, she stated further that the expected interactive panel discussions by experts will project emerging trends and advancements and, as well, reinforce the crucial role of diagnostics in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and national health care security.
Highlights of the opening ceremony include several goodwill messages by Government agencies, international development partners, and private sectors/manufacturers of diagnostic products and technologies; amongst which are NACA, PVAC, WHO, Illumina and Molbio diagnostics Ltd.
The maiden National Summit on Diagnostics is a three-day event holding 11-13, March 2025. It is enriched with panel discussions by the experts, including a wide range of exhibition stands parading cutting-edge diagnostic technologies.
Alaba Balogun
Deputy Director
Information & Public Relations
11 March 2025
