) Roche Diagnostics and MedServe, the healthcare subsidiary of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), have entered into a five-year agreement to equip 12 laboratory sites across Nigeria with modern diagnostic systems.
Speaking at the agreement signing on Friday in Lagos, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MedServe, Dr Tolulope Adewole, said the goal was to decentralise access to quality healthcare in Nigeria.
Adewole said the initiative would help build a healthcare system capable of responding more effectively to the diagnostic health needs of Nigerians.
According to him, the partnership supports the first phase of MedServe’s programme to expand access to modern diagnostic services and strengthen Nigeria’s laboratory capacity.
He further explained that the laboratory services’ accessibility increases with increased health insurance uptake, calling for more robust health insurance system in the country.
He added that the programme would leverage existing HIV testing infrastructure to build additional laboratory capacity needed to support Nigeria’s healthcare priorities, noting that installation at the first laboratory site was already underway.
“Expanding Nigeria’s diagnostic services is a vital part of building a healthcare system that can respond more effectively to the health needs of its people.
“The partnership is expected to contribute to a stronger and more self-reliant healthcare system by expanding access to quality diagnostic services across the country.
“This initiative is designed to improve access to modern diagnostic services while strengthening the capacity of laboratories to meet the growing healthcare needs of Nigerians,” Adewole said.
Roberto Taboada, the Network Head, Anglo-West Africa, Roche Diagnostics, said strong local partnerships were essential to developing sustainable diagnostic capacity.
Taboada expressed commitment to supporting the deployment of innovative diagnostic solutions that would improve laboratory efficiency and patient care in Nigeria.
“Building lasting diagnostic capability requires strong local partnerships and consistent support through implementation.
“Working with MedServe allows us to contribute our expertise to a programme shaped around Nigeria’s priorities and the unique needs of its healthcare system,” Taboada said.
Shedding more light, Mr Kola Owodunni, the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), reiterated that under the agreement, modern automated testing equipment would be deployed across the 12 laboratory sites to streamline operations, improve efficiency and enhance the availability of reliable diagnostic services.
The organisations said the partnership would combine MedServe’s local leadership and investment mandate with Roche Diagnostics’ laboratory expertise and implementation support to establish integrated diagnostic services that could be sustained over time.
They said the initiative would improve access to reliable diagnostic information needed to support effective diagnosis, treatment and patient care across the country.(NAN)
