By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

A global pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, Roche Diagnostics has launched its new diagnostics legal entity in Nigeria with a view to reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to quality diagnostics across the continent.

Africa which has 54 countries, a population of over 1.5 billion and an average age of 19.3 carries 25 percent of the global health burden but only one percent of the global health budget and three percent of the global health workforce.

Speaking, Country Manager, Roche Diagnostics Africa, Roberto Taboada, said Roche aims to reset the statistics by working with local governments and domestic funding institutions.

Taboada said the firm’s expansion aligns with its 10-year diagnostics strategy for Africa, which aims to increase access to in-vitro diagnostics, IVD tenfold.

He said: “This is a significant step towards achieving sustainable healthcare transformation in Nigeria. By working closely with local stakeholders, we are creating a more responsive diagnostics ecosystem.

“As Africa’s largest and most populous economy, Nigeria presents significant opportunities for healthcare investment and innovation.

“With a history of over 70 years in Africa, Roche is uniquely positioned to offer expertise in diagnostics infrastructure, systems optimisation, process harmonisation, skills transfer, capacity building and workforce mobilisation. These are critical to scaling up access to healthcare in Africa and improving patients’ quality of life.

“The new legal entity will enhance Roche’s ability to engage directly with customers, improve supply chain efficiency, and strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers. It will also enable stronger collaborations that support Nigeria’s journey to Universal Health Coverage, UHC”.

Also, Director, Strategy and Innovation, Roche Diagnostics, Africa Jonathan Keytel, said Nigeria is a critical market, saying: “This investment supports our long-term vision for healthcare in Africa. With this launch, we strengthen our role in delivering innovative diagnostics solutions that improve healthcare outcomes for more patients where it is needed most.”