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WHX in Lagos to highlight pathways for localising West Africa’s health supply chain
West Africa’s In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) market currently stands at
US$0.988 billion in 2025 and is set to grow at a 4% CAGR, reaching US$1.388 billion by 2034.
Meanwhile, Africa’s broader medical supplies market is soaring from US$6.5 billion in 2025 to
US$11.18 billion by 2031 at a 10.4% CAGR, with pharmaceutical imports, led by Nigeria’s 60% regional share, are projected to hit US$6.5 billion by 2030, straining cold-chain and logistics
infrastructure.
Yet, amid this rapid expansion, West African hospitals and labs face acute vulnerabilities; 85–99% import dependency on medical equipment and IVDs triggers two-to-four-week delays and severe downtime, foreign exchange shortages drive cost volatility, and over 70% out-of-pocket spending demands urgent efficiencies.
Procurement leaders are responding with a strategic pivot, from lowest-cost bids to service-led sourcing, foreign exchange-hedged contracts, and inventory buffering for reagents, while
regional suppliers already deliver 30–40% faster lead times.
The Hospital Investment & Buyer Leadership Forum, held in collaboration with ABCHealth on 3
June, as part of the World Health Expo (WHX) in Lagos (2-4 June 2026, Landmark Centre), creates a platform for healthcare leaders and vetted suppliers for diagnostics, cold-chain, and digital platforms to connect.
Held under the theme “Advancing hospital growth and innovation:
Investment, strategic partnerships, and technology adoption in West Africa”, attendees can look forward to intelligence on policies like Nigeria’s duty waivers, benchmarking regional
manufacturers, and securing framework agreements for crisis-ready chains, as well as capitalising on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) reforms and donor funding for transparent, tech-enabled systems.
“The Hospital Investment & Buyer Leadership Forum at WHX turns these challenges into opportunities,” Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director – Healthcare, Informa Markets explained.
He noted that“Leaders can secure framework agreements with vetted suppliers, tap AfCFTA and policyincentives like Nigeria’s duty waivers, and build crisis-resilient systems.”
According to a 2026 WHX report titled ‘Building Resilient Healthcare Supply Chains in West Africa, structural shift in West Africa is gaining momentum through localisation, with
Afreximbank’s US$75 million facility spurring the production of devices, vaccines, and biologics alongside Nigeria’s progress from 30% local medicine output in 2024 toward a 70% target by 2030.
The AfCFTA initiative is further accelerating distribution hubs in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte
d’Ivoire, enabling blended original equipment manufacturer-regional sourcing.
“The Hospital Investment & Buyer Leadership Forum at WHX is a pivotal gathering for healthcare leaders, investors, and suppliers to drive hospital expansion across Nigeria and the region,” Dr. Mories Atoki, CEO, ABCHealth said.
According to him, “We are excited to engage on key topics, from
tools and systems hospitals prioritise for better care, to strategies strengthening facilities and
workforce capabilities, innovative partnership models for resource and technology integration, and financing models enabling sustainable growth. This forum creates unmatched opportunities to forge connections that accelerate service expansion and technology adoption amid West Africa’s healthcare transformation.”
WHX brings together more than 500 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge medical solutions, over 8,000 professional visitors and 30 world-renowned speakers sharing insights that matter across three dynamic parter-led forums, creating opportunities for market expansion and strategic partnerships.
Sectors represented at the exhibition include medical devices and equipment, disposables and consumer goods, orthopaedics and physiotherapy, imaging and diagnostics, healthcare and general services, healthcare infrastructure, wellness and prevention, laboratory,
as well as IT and solutions.
New features at WHX include an integrated Lab Zone, showcasing diagnostics, equipment, and
consumables with live demonstrations, and a networking lounge for business connections, hands-on workshops, expert insights and buyer matchmaking to drive commercial outcomes.
The WHX portfolio includes three key healthcare events in Africa, held in Johannesburg, Nairobi,
and Lagos. These events form a unified platform that connects global brands with regional
distributors.
Healthcare professionals, suppliers, and investors are encouraged to register to attend WHX,
apply to exhibit, and explore its rich conference learning and networking opportunities as part of
Africa’s healthcare future.
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman and diplomat, has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama. They officially informed him of his passing.
The delegation, representing the Gbeho family, noted that it was culturally and diplomatically important to formally notify the President of the loss before making a public announcement of his death.
Ambassador Gbeho was a towering figure in Ghanaian and international politics. He served in many diplomatic missions, including New York. He was Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission.
He was widely respected for his role in regional integration and his contributions to global diplomacy at the United Nations.
President Mahama expressed his condolences and shared reflections on Ambassador Gbeho’s contributions to the country, West Africa and the world.
Funeral details will be announced later.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revoked all firearm permits in Ghana with immediate effect and announced a new registration process for all gun owners.
The minister made the announcement on Tuesday, June 23, at the information service department saying all individuals who currently hold licences to own firearms or sidearms must undergo a fresh registration process.
“From this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual that you are holding a sidearm or firearm is hereby revoked,” Mr Muntaka said.
He explained that the government had identified gaps in the country’s firearm registration system and needed to introduce stricter measures to improve public safety.
“We are opening the window where everyone will have to come forward again to register or re-register the gun because we’ve changed the procedure,” he stated.
According to him, the government decided not to wait until the end of the year to make the changes because lives could still be saved within the next six months.
The Interior Minister said one of the new requirements would be mandatory mental health screening for applicants seeking firearm licences.
“We’ve seen that people with mental health have already gone through and have the sidearm. Now we are introducing mental health. Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold the firearms,” he said.
Mr Muntaka also announced that applicants would be required to undergo drug tests before being granted licences.
“We’ve also realised that people who are on drugs are also holding their arms and they are legitimate because it’s been registered. Now you have to go through drug tests to be sure that you are not on drugs before you can hold sidearms,” he added.
The minister said the new measures form part of efforts by the government to tighten firearm control and prevent legally registered weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
He urged all firearm owners to cooperate with the new registration process once details of the exercise are announced.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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