AMLSN Raises Alarm Over Nigeria’s 99% Dependence on Imported Diagnostic Products, Demands Immediate Reform

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has expressed concern over Nigeria's heavy reliance on imported diagnostic products, with an estimated 95 to 99 percent of in-vitro diagnostics coming from abroad. To address this issue, the association called for immediate reforms to boost local manufacturing, enhance laboratory quality standards, establish regulations for emerging diagnostic technologies, and tackle critical manpower and funding gaps within the sector.

These demands were part of 10 resolutions adopted during the association's 61st annual scientific conference in Lagos, which focused on global innovation in laboratory medicine and its potential to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.

Key issues discussed at the conference included the need for a phased national strategy for local production of diagnostic products, increased domestic funding for genomic surveillance, and the establishment of quality governance for point-of-care testing and institutionalized funding for laboratory accreditation. Additionally, the association highlighted the need to create a unified Digital Health Act, address regulatory gaps created by the rapid growth of digital and AI-driven healthcare technologies, and integrate artificial intelligence ethically into laboratory practice.

The conference called for expanded postgraduate training and mentorship programs for Medical Laboratory Scientists to address the manpower challenge, as well as the need to strengthen the security of healthcare workers. Furthermore, the association urged the federal government to include diagnostic and laboratory services in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services funded under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, recognizing the importance of a robust diagnostic system for public health priorities, such as viral hepatitis elimination, disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance response, and pandemic preparedness.