By Chukwuma Umeorah
Nigeria’s dependence on imported diagnostic products is putting its healthcare system at risk, with the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), saying the country imports between 95 and 99 per cent of its in-vitro diagnostic products.
The association said the dependence could affect the availability and reliability of essential diagnostic commodities, particularly during health emergencies and periods of global supply disruption. AMLSN therefore called for a phased national strategy for the local production of diagnostic products to reduce dependence on foreign supplies and strengthen domestic capacity.
The call was contained in resolutions issued at the end of the association’s 61st yearly scientific conference in Lagos, where participants examined local diagnostic manufacturing, laboratory accreditation, digital health regulation, genomic surveillance, artificial intelligence and healthcare security.
Speaking on the issue, the conference Chairman and Managing Director of ISN Medical, Felix Ofungwu, said the situation had exposed Nigeria to vulnerabilities in the supply of essential diagnostic commodities. He stressed the need for the country to build domestic capacity rather than continue to rely overwhelmingly on foreign products.
Ofungwu also called for sustained domestic funding for genomic surveillance, particularly as Nigeria continues to face infectious disease threats and antimicrobial resistance.
The association urged the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) and relevant government authorities to strengthen quality governance for point-of-care testing and institutionalise funding for laboratory accreditation. It said diagnostic accuracy and reliability remained central to healthcare delivery, warning that weaknesses in laboratory systems could affect disease detection, treatment and public health responses.
AMLSN also raised concerns over the rapid emergence of digital and artificial intelligence-driven healthcare technologies, saying the pace of innovation was creating regulatory gaps within Nigeria’s diagnostic system. The association called for action to address regulatory uncertainties surrounding tele-laboratory and digital diagnostic services, noting that Nigeria does not yet have a unified Digital Health Act.
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<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
