WHX Lagos Highlights Need for Investment in Healthcare Diagnostics
By Admin, Lagos
Stakeholders at the just-concluded World Health Expo (WHX) Lagos 2026 have stressed that improving healthcare outcomes in Africa will require more than innovation, calling for stronger investments, strategic partnerships and sustainable financing to expand access to quality diagnostics.
The three-day event, held in Lagos, brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, investors and technology providers under the theme, “Transforming Diagnostics: Investment, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships.”
Delivering a keynote address on public-private partnerships in healthcare, Director of the Centre for Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases and Personalised Healthcare at the University of Lagos, Professor Oluyemi Akinloye said access to quality healthcare remains the ultimate goal of medical innovation.
“What we need is accessible quality healthcare that serves everyone both the rich, the poor and the average citizen,” he said.
Akinloye noted that governments alone cannot drive healthcare transformation, urging greater collaboration between public institutions, private investors, researchers and healthcare providers.
”It is not possible that governments will do everything. The private sector must play a significant role, not only in making profits but also in creating social impact,” he added.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Synlab Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie, identified healthcare financing as a major obstacle to wider access to diagnostic services in Nigeria.
”There is clearly no problem with demand. The challenge is that healthcare is mostly out-of-pocket in Nigeria,” he said.
Okolie called for stronger health insurance systems and innovative financing models to reduce the burden on patients and improve access to essential medical tests.
Speaking on the impact of the exhibition, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NewLord Nigeria Limited, Vishal Daryanani described WHX Lagos as an important platform for business growth and industry collaboration.
According to him, the exhibition provided valuable networking opportunities and helped create greater visibility for healthcare businesses operating in the country.
”WHX has helped us connect with industry stakeholders and has given our business a significant boost. Nigeria remains a great place to do business, and platforms like this help drive growth across the healthcare sector,” Daryanani said.
Participants also highlighted the growing role of digital health, data management and personalised medicine in shaping the future of healthcare delivery across Africa.
A recurring message throughout the conference was that while healthcare technologies continue to advance, their impact will depend largely on the ability of stakeholders to make them affordable, accessible and available to the populations that need them most.