Medical Lab Scientists Seek End to Import Dependency on Diagnostics Products

• Tomori: local vaccine production being sabotaged

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Conference of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors of Nigeria has said that the country should sustain efforts at attaining proficiency in production of local diagnostic products.

The position of the medical laboratory scientists came just as a renowned virologist and Chairman of Biovaccines Nigeria Ltd. (BVNL), Prof. Oyewale Tomori blamed selfish interests for the delay in reviving local vaccine production

Speaking at the in Abuja at the 28th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) the National President of the Guild, Dr. Sam Fele said the country has relied heavily on imported reagents, consumables, equipment exporting employment opportunities among other disadvantages.

He said the market value of imported diagnostic materials is protected to reach $1.70 billion by 2032

Speaking on the conference theme – “From Diagnostic Sovereignty to Market Readiness”, Fele said the country must move beyond dependence to establish a thriving and competitive diagnostic industry capable of holding fort globally.

Fele also said that laboratory must be at the centre of any transformation if the country is to achieve diagnostic sovereignty.

“ Diagnostic sovereignty requires more than domestic production. It demands an integrated, end-to-end ecosystem that connects research, innovation, manufacturing, regulation quality assurance, distribution, laboratories healthcare providers, patients and data.

“Nigeria must ensure that a viable market exists for locally manufactured medical diagnostics if efforts to achieve diagnostic sovereignty and sustainable healthcare production to succeed,” has said.

While declaring the conference open, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr, Iziaq Salako, who was represented by Dr. Emeka Elom, Director and Head, Medical Laboratory Services Division, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said accurate and timely diagnosis remained critical to healthcare delivery, disease surveillance and public health decision-making.

He said the theme of the conference, “From Diagnostic Sovereignty to Market Readiness: Building Nigeria’s End-to-End Diagnostics Ecosystem,” was timely and aligned with the federal government’s health sector renewal agenda and commitment to building a sustainable and responsive health system.

According to him, Nigeria’s pursuit of diagnostic sovereignty must go beyond the local production of diagnostic commodities.

He said it must encompass stronger national capacity, technology transfer, research and innovation, effective regulation, sustainable procurement and strategic partnerships capable of improving access to quality and affordable diagnostic services.

“The federal government recognises diagnostics as a strategic national asset.

“Nigeria’s path towards diagnostic sovereignty requires more than local production; it requires stronger national capacity, technology transfer, research and innovation, effective regulation, sustainable procurement and strategic partnerships that can generate access to quality, affordable and timely diagnostic services,” he said

In his remarks, renowned virologist, Prof. Tomori raised concerns about the country’s long-standing efforts to establish local vaccine manufacturing capacity.

He said that after almost 20 years of involvement with Biovaccines Nigeria Ltd., Nigeria had yet to make the progress in vaccine production that he believed it should have achieved.

He said the country ought to have established stronger domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity much earlier, given the importance of vaccines to public health and national security.

He blamed some of the delays on vested interests and individuals whom he said placed personal interests above national priorities.

“There are individuals, and just like you have in your association, we have individuals in all these ministries who are stumbling blocks to progress,” he said

Tomori nevertheless expressed optimism that collective action and sustained commitment could help address the obstacles affecting local vaccine production.

Also, while welcoming participants, chairman of the Local Organising Committee Ikechukwu Ononuju said the conference provides a platform for medical laboratory professionals and other stakeholders to examine issues around diagnostics, disease surveillance, healthcare delivery and national health security.

Representative of the DG National Blood Transfusion Agency, Dr. Adesola Adebayo said that strict compliance to standards and quality benchmark in screening of blood and transfusion must be maintained.