The role of medical labs in strengthening West Africa’s healthcare systems

It is estimated that approximately 70% of medical decisions are based on laboratory test results,underscoring the pivotal role that medical laboratories play within the healthcare value chain.

They are responsible for diagnosing diseases and other health conditions, aiding doctors and nurses to accurately prescribe and provide appropriate treatments for patients.

Medical laboratories have proven to be of great advantage to the healthcare system, offering various benefits in the test, diagnosis, and treatment stages. These advantages include the provision of scientific data, which allows for empirically supported decisions in patient care.

Furthermore, medical laboratories aid in choosing the least invasive and cost-effective test methods, potentially impacting the duration of hospitalisation and ultimately improving overall patient care.

Medical laboratories also play a critical role in disease control and prevention, providing information that greatly assists in maintaining public health through measures such as early detection of disease outbreaks and disease surveillance.

However, their full potential is hindered
by challenges including poor infrastructure, a shortage of trained personnel, outdated equipment, and limited access to reliable diagnostic services.

West Africa particularly suffers from these issues and currently faces a range of healthcare problems, including frequent disease outbreaks such as Ebola, malaria, and cholera. This highlights the increasing need for the strengthening of West Africa’s laboratory networks to improve disease surveillance, help combat frequent outbreaks, decrease mortality rates, and
enhance national preparedness.

WHX Labs Lagos, formerly Medlab West Africa, serves as the leading hub for laboratory innovation in the region. By bringing together advanced technology, global experts, and transformative opportunities, WHX Labs Lagos specifically is shaping the future of diagnostics
and fostering collaboration to drive progress in West Africa’s healthcare sector through the bolstering of the medical lab network.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical laboratories were instrumental in quickly identifying the causative agent of the outbreak, enabling experts to understand the virus’s genetic makeup and characteristics. This understanding was key to limiting the spread of the virus and enhancing medical treatment, establishing quality control programs to ensure accurate results, validating testing methods, developing vaccines, and tracking disease progression. Medical laboratories further played a vital role in monitoring hospitalised patients with severe complications through biochemical and serological analysis.

Consequently, medical laboratory scientists were able to advise governments on containment strategies such as “social distancing,” overseeing sterilisation and disinfection processes, and implementing robust disease surveillance systems. These efforts enabled swift responses to the
COVID-19 outbreak, helping to prevent further widespread transmission.

With the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the health sector, medical laboratories have undergone a significant revolution. The introduction of AI has led to remarkable improvements in the accuracy of medical image analysis and the prediction of patient outcomes.

Numerous studies utilising AI in the diagnosis of ailments such as diabetic
retinopathy and pulmonary tuberculosis have demonstrated success and accuracy, producing results comparable to those of human experts.

For countries in the West African region, building a resilient laboratory network is crucial.

Collaboration between governments, private sector players, and international organisations is key to achieving this. Governments partnering with private sector entities and international organisers can alleviate financial pressures, provide relevant courses and training for medical
laboratory scientists, and procure state-of-the-art equipment for medical laboratories, which governments might not ordinarily be able to afford within their own budgets.

Such initiatives can address the shortage of trained personnel and other issues hindering the development of better health systems in West Africa. These collaborations will foster a stronger laboratory network, ensuring that medical laboratories and laboratory scientists are well-supported and equipped to tackle disease outbreaks and better prepared to prevent future occurrences.

Events such as WHX Labs Lagos provide significant opportunities for such collaborations to occur. With numerous international companies showcasing cutting-edge technologies for the future of medical laboratories in West Africa, WHX Labs Lagos also offers valuable networking opportunities for professionals in both the private and public healthcare sectors, with the aim of encouraging knowledge-sharing and driving the advancement of medical laboratories in the region.

Medical laboratories are central to the healthcare system and are relied upon by the entire healthcare ecosystem to appropriately and accurately diagnose and treat patients. The upcoming WHX Labs Lagos scheduled for 2 – 4 June 2025 at Landmark Center Lagos will bring together over 500 exhibitors from around the world, creating a central meeting point for medical laboratory professionals and stakeholders to connect, innovate, strategise, explore the latest laboratory technologies, forge partnerships, build relationships, and explore solutions to enhance medical laboratories in West Africa.

Key discussions will be held during the exhibition, focusing on the critical role of medical laboratories in strengthening West Africa’s healthcare system. These discussions will cover topics across the medical labsector such as: Clinical Chemistry, Laboratory and Quality
Management, Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology, amongst many others. Organisations such as Health Federation of Nigeria, HFN and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, PSHAN will also be leading relevant healthcare conversations at the conference. Attendees will benefit from workshops and seminars led by health experts and the opportunity to interact directly with the latest medical laboratory technologies, which are poised to significantly impact and rapidly improve medical laboratories in West Africa.