Medical Laboratory Scientists’ contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is in the region of N456,250 billion, an equivalent of $1 billion annually, the Natonal President, Guild of Medical Laboratory Directord of Nigeria (GMLD), Prince Elochukwu Adibo has said.
Adibo also revealed that the Medical Laboratory Scientists processed over 91,250,000 pathological samples annually .
The National President, Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors of Nigeria spoke on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting, AGM of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors in Abuja.
He said, “We have membership drawn from over 4,000 private Medical laboratories across the country, employing over 22,000 skilled and unskilled labour, processing over 91,250,000 pathological samples annually with trade volume estimated at N456,250,000,000 (approximately $1 billion) or 5.1% of our 514.076 billion US dollars (nominal, 2021 est.) National GDP.”
Adibo said the private sector, including the private Medical Laboratories, contributes about “60-70% of total health care delivery services in Nigeria.
He further stated that the Laboratory Private Sector have over 80 Private Labs setting up Molecular Laboratories and increasing in-country testing capacity.
The National President urged the government and international/local support organizations to collaborate with the private health sector to improve the Nigeria’s health care services, especially in the area of human vaccines production and manufacture of in-vitro diagnostics.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by the Director General Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu urged the CMLD Nigeria to invest more in Laboraties, especially in cities with large population.
“One area the Federal Government has progressed is building bridges in the public-private sectors. Over 140 Laboratories developed (50 private Laboratories for Covid-19 testing). He advised the guild to invest in cities with large population to build laboratories,” he said.
