Stakeholders Reiterate Commitment To Shaping Healthier Future For West Africa

Critical stakeholders in the healthcare space in West Africa, have reiterated their commitment to tackling healthcare challenges which ranges from high cost of drugs, poor infrastructure to shortage of staff.

Stakeholders who made the commitment at the 2024 edition of the Medic West Africa Exhibition and Conference, said the healthcare system in Africa is marred with these challenges, even as they set agenda on ways to tackling them.

For instance, the national coordinator of the Presidential “Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain” Initiative, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, lamented that 70 per cent of drugs Nigeria are imported, while 30 per cent are produced locally.

“We import about 32 per cent of pharmaceuticals from India; 31 from Netherlands and 10 per cent from China. On medical devices, Nigeria imports 99 per cent of its medical devices used in the country. For instance, we import about 36 per cent of medical devices from China; Germany (10 per cent), France (nine percent) and India (eight per cent). On vaccines, Nigeria is a GAVI country, hence we don’t manufacture vaccines,” he explained.

He listed supply, demand and enablement environment as challenges that are undermining the industrial development of the life sciences sector in the country. “For instance, on the demand side, consumers have higher preferences and willingness to pay for imported products, while on the supply side, about 17 per cent of products are substandard or falsified, thereby impacting consumer trust. Also, local manufacturers are increasingly obtaining quality certifications, but this is still considered a challenge as only four players are WHO-GMP certified,” Mukhtar revealed.

To tackle these challenges, Mukhtar averred that in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), adding that, “The initiative seeks to unlock billions of dollars of new investment into the nation’s healthcare delivery system. This will be achieved through time-bound and cross-ministerial collaboration to restructure the healthcare ecosystem. The vision is to transform Nigeria into one of the world’s key emerging hubs of health products and technologies manufacturing.”

In the same vein, special adviser to the President on Health, Salma Anas-Ibrahim, said president Bola Tinubu is passionate about how the country can improve and change the trajectory in the health sector.

Speaking on Medic West Africa 2024 Conference, Anas-Ibrahim said, “It gives me great joy and pleasure to attend this important event representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This administration attaches great importance to healthcare development, especially concerning how we can improve and change the trajectory of the health sector and how we can reverse the trend of local manufacturing of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals including vaccines in Nigeria.

“We are partners with you in this journey of success. We know this will not be achieved in one day but the most important thing is to prioritise it. It is one of the key priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, which the honorable minister of Health is implementing through the four-point agenda approach.”

Senior exhibition director, Informa Markets, Tom Coleman, expressed his pride in the continued legacy and impact of the event, adding that “For 11 years, Medic West Africa has served as a vital bridge, bringing the latest healthcare innovations directly to the West African region. We take immense pride in being the leading healthcare business platform, fostering a dynamic environment where all key stakeholders – from leading manufacturers and distributors to government officials and frontline clinicians – convene, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships. This collaborative spirit is the cornerstone for driving sustainable growth and positive change across the entire West African healthcare ecosystem and value chain.”

Medic West Africa 2024 brought together a multitude of stakeholders including healthcare professionals, industry leaders, innovators, and government representatives, to promote the exploration of technological innovations and foster an environment of knowledge exchange and collaboration that promises to revolutionize the region’s healthcare landscape.

The renowned event, the largest gathering of healthcare stakeholders in the region, organized by Informa Markets, witnessed phenomenal participation with thousands of professionals from across West Africa and beyond gracing the halls. Over 150 exhibitors showcased cutting-edge medical technologies and solutions, generating millions in in business value on the show’s floor. This robust participation underscores the critical role Medic West Africa plays in driving growth and progress within the regional healthcare sector.

A number of major deals were signed during the event, including partnerships between local and international companies to bring new technologies and products to the region. Furthermore, in a heartwarming moment that perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the event, a leading hearing aid manufacturer exhibitor, Hear Today, conducted a life-altering procedure right on the show floor. The event was supported by Crown Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, and UNI-Medical as platinum partners; PPC Healthcare as a gold partner; and Gabbi Health as a silver partner.