By: George Ozalla
The Nigerian government is geared towards accelerating coordinated, standardized, and harmonized diagnostic services across all levels of the healthcare system in the country, including primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare systems.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Izia, made this known at the first National Summit on Diagnostics, which kicked off in Abuja on Tuesday. He stated that the integration of diagnostic services is important for enhancing efficiency, eliminating service repetition, and ensuring the efficient utilization of resources.
“Through this approach, we will be able to address long-standing challenges in diagnostic services, such as fragmentation, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to high-quality services, particularly in underserved communities,” Dr. Izia said.
He noted that the summit presents a special opportunity to pinpoint the role of diagnostics in delivering an efficient, effective, resilient, and responsive health system. “It also helps to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the role of diagnostics in achieving the health agenda of the government at all levels.”
Dr. Izia explained that the healthcare value chain encompasses all components that contribute to the delivery of healthcare services, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation. He made reference to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic experience and underscored the indispensable role of diagnosis in managing public health emergencies.
Dr. Izia reassured that a strong and well-coordinated diagnostic system is vital for clinical decision-making, disease surveillance, health data management, and ensuring timely interventions. “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 Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, stated that the theme of the summit, “Unlocking Healthcare Value Chains and Improving Universal Health Coverage through Integrated Diagnostic Services,” clearly reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“We recognize the fact that diagnostics is a cornerstone of healthcare, enabling accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and improved health outcomes. This summit brings together stakeholders from across the healthcare spectrum, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, industry experts, and civil society organizations, to discuss the issue.”
Kachollom observed that diagnostics are fundamental to effective healthcare delivery, influencing over 70% of medical decisions. “Nevertheless, several challenges persist, 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.”
A renowned virologist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, in a presentation, stressed that achieving diagnostic excellence in Nigeria is a continuous exercise that must be sustained. “The journey must interrogate what changes are relevant to the current practice culture and the traditional laboratory-centric quality management system approach.”
The 3-day summit, which continues until Thursday, aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss and formulate strategies for improving diagnostic services in Nigeria.
