The Federal Government has intensified efforts to deepen Nigeria’s health partnership with China, with a focus on medical technology, artificial intelligence, hospital development, diagnostics and local manufacturing.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Friday while delivering Nigeria’s ministerial remarks at the 32nd China International Medical Equipment Exhibition and Scientific Conference, China-HOSPEQ 2026, at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing.
Salako said the conference provided an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its cooperation with China beyond traditional trade relations and develop practical partnerships capable of improving healthcare delivery in the country.
He said the focus of the conference on China-Africa hospital collaboration, artificial intelligence, appropriate technologies, capacity building and laboratory medicine aligned with Nigeria’s health sector priorities.
According to the minister, the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, improving access to affordable and quality services, expanding diagnostic and specialised care, accelerating digital health transformation and strengthening the health workforce.
He added that the government was also prioritising local production of medicines, medical devices and diagnostic equipment.
Salako said achieving the objectives would require stronger institutions, sustainable financing, skilled health workers, innovative technologies and strategic international partnerships.
“For Nigeria, international platforms such as China-HOSPEQ provide valuable opportunities to identify technologies and innovations that are appropriate, affordable, scalable and responsive to our health-system needs,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria-China health cooperation had expanded to areas including hospital development, medical technology, diagnostics, digital health, research, workforce development and local manufacturing.
He also identified pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical equipment procurement and maintenance, and specialised training in traditional and phytomedicine as emerging areas of cooperation.
Salako, however, warned that providing medical equipment alone would not guarantee sustainable improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He said equipment must be appropriate for local conditions, while health workers must be adequately trained and systems put in place for maintenance, quality assurance and effective integration of technology into the health system.
The minister said Nigeria was willing to deepen cooperation with China and other international partners in medical equipment and health technologies, hospital development, clinical engineering, laboratory medicine, diagnostics, digital health, artificial intelligence, research and innovation.
He also listed health workforce development, technology transfer, local manufacturing and health emergency preparedness among areas where Nigeria was seeking stronger international collaboration.
Salako said global challenges such as pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, climate-related health threats and health inequalities required coordinated international action.
He therefore urged participants at China-HOSPEQ 2026 to turn the opportunities presented by the exhibition into practical partnerships and sustainable investments in Nigeria’s health sector.
“Let us move from exhibition to implementation, from innovation to impact, and from partnership to sustainable capacity,” he said.