Our Correspondent
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, has called for the integration of diagnostic services to improve Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
Dr. Salako’s call is a significant step towards strengthening the healthcare delivery system, which emphasizes the importance of diagnostics in healthcare, recognizing it as the gateway to effective treatment, prevention, and public health strategies.
Speaking at the National Summit on Diagnostics in Abuja, Dr. Salako stressed the importance of standardized and harmonized diagnostic services across all levels of care, from primary to tertiary.
He noted that a well-integrated diagnostic framework is essential for efficient, effective, and responsive healthcare delivery.
Dr. Salako pointed out the challenges facing Nigeria’s diagnostic landscape, including fragmentation, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to high-quality services.
He reiterated that the integration of diagnostic services is crucial for enhancing efficiency, eliminating service duplication, and ensuring the optimal utilization of resources.
Dr. Salako appealed to stakeholders to work together to achieve this goal. “A strong and well-coordinated diagnostic system is not only vital for clinical decision-making but also for disease surveillance, health data management, and ensuring timely interventions.”
He emphasized the importance of integrating diagnostic services into the broader healthcare value chain to enhance efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, a strategic element of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to save foreign exchange, create millions of jobs, reduce the cost of care, reduce outbound medical tourism, and ultimately improve the health status of Nigerians and the economy of Nigeria.
Dr. Salako challenged participants at the summit to develop practical, implementable strategies to help Nigeria become a global hub for healthcare manufacturing within the next half-decade.
“The goal should be how to integrate diagnostic services into the broader healthcare value chain so as to enhance efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
“The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain is a strategic element of the 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 Nigeria.
“Diagnostics, with its unique cost recoverable attribute, has a big role to play in this agenda. Let me therefore, challenge all participants at this summit to take participation beyond just a mere workshop by coming up with practical, implementable strategies that can help Nigeria become a global hub for healthcare manufacturing within the next half-decade.
“Let me also use this opportunity to call on all Government agencies, international development partners, private sector actors, and professional associations to ensure continuous integration of diagnostic services into our healthcare delivery system using multiple technologies and optimising the contribution of all diagnostic professionals.
“I wish to appeal to all actors within the diagnostic space to always play as a team, respect and cooperate with each other for the good of the patients we have all sworn to serve.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Salaudeen Jimoh, noted that diagnostics are fundamental to effective healthcare delivery, influencing over 70% of medical decisions.
Kachollom highlighted the challenges persisting in Nigeria’s diagnostic landscape, including gaps in accessibility and limitations in technology and infrastructure.
This summit affords a unique opportunity to evaluate our 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.
