Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister of Health, has advocated for the adoption of local manufacturing of laboratory equipment in African states to foster the growth of the continent’s health sector.
Aceng emphasizes that the challenges posed by Covid-19 underscore the importance of embracing local manufacturing to avoid similar disruptions in the future.
These sentiments were expressed during Aceng’s participation in a session on the future of African diagnostics at the African Society on Laboratory Medicine Conference (ASLM) 2023 on Tuesday.
Held under the theme “Shaping laboratory systems and diagnostic services for the 21st century,” Aceng discouraged unnecessary competition among diagnostic manufacturers in Africa, urging for collaborative efforts and solidarity to prevent market saturation.
“There needs to be a rethinking, collective efforts and solidarity in that aspect, if one country puts up a manufacturing plant and another follows the same step, the issue of market will be killed,” she explained.
She also emphasized the need for a standardized system, where products approved by the African system and pre-qualified by WHO are respected and adopted by other countries, fostering mutual growth.
Aceng asserts that through such collective measures, Africa can strengthen and advance its local manufacturing business.
The conference, attracting over 1,000 participants, aims to explore transformative technologies in laboratory medicine, reshape Africa’s healthcare system, and influence global health events.
Aceng highlights the importance of elevating diagnostic and laboratory issues, urging political leaders to empower them with budgets and policies for informed decision-making.
Dr. Susan Nabadda, commissioner of laboratory services, was appointed interim chair of the Laboratory Directors forum at the conference, a platform established by the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) in 2022 to unite continental leaders in laboratory services and enhance laboratory capacity in Africa.
In her remarks, Dr. Nabadda urged national governments, donors, and partners to promote diagnostic integration, moving from vertical disease programs to more integrated diagnostic systems for comprehensive healthcare solutions.