Strategies for improving Nigeria’s Healthcare practice proposed at the ISN Quality Assurance Summit

Medical laboratory professionals and quality assurance officers have been equipped with strategies necessary for the achievement of quality healthcare in Nigeria at the 5th edition of the ISN Quality Assurance Summit (iQAS).

The online event, which was the first of its kind in the history of the quarterly summit, held on Saturday, June 6, 2020, and focused on examining the challenges of quality healthcare practice in Nigeria and proffering ways forward.

According to the keynote speaker, Prof. Oluyemi Akinloye, a Professor of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics at the University of Lagos, quality healthcare should be safe, timely, patient-centred, efficient and effective, and must be equitably provided. Unfortunately, the Nigerian healthcare system falls short of these indices owing to factors such as bad leadership, fragmented structure, lack of adequate funding, and poor technical knowledge among some practitioners. This situation has led to a generally below-standard outcome with the country being ranked 187 out of 195 countries in the 2018 Health Access Quality (HAQ) index.

To move past the apparent challenges of decline in resources, overwhelming pressure, and unmet expectations, Prof. Akinloye recommended a total overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system. To achieve this, he emphasised inclusive and integrated strategies and approach: round table discussions and negotiations with stakeholders; capacity building and incorporation of modern tools; identification of opportunities which can be harnessed; and collective responsibility and action.

Taofik Oloruko-Oba, Head of Diagnostics, West Africa at Roche Products, spoke on Roche’s proactive steps towards the improvement of healthcare delivery with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. The past few months have witnessed an evolution of solutions for COVID-19 diagnosis which Roche has innovated and made available in Nigeria to improve the country’s testing capacity.

To stimulate quality medical laboratory results, ISN Medical, in conjunction with its global partners is committed to providing top-notch diagnostic equipment and resources in Nigeria and across Africa. A replay of the summit is available on the company’s YouTube channel. Follow ISN Medical on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for more information on quality diagnostics.