The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening Nigeria’s strategic health partnership with China, particularly in medical technology, hospital development, diagnostics, digital health, artificial intelligence and local manufacturing.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this 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’s focus on China-Africa hospital collaboration, artificial intelligence, appropriate technologies, capacity building and laboratory medicine aligned with Nigeria’s efforts to expand its partnership with China beyond traditional trade relations.
He described China-HOSPEQ as more than an exhibition of medical equipment, saying it provided a platform for dialogue, innovation, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships capable of translating technological advancement into improved health outcomes.
“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,” Salako said.
According to the minister, the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is implementing reforms aimed at transforming the country’s health sector.
He identified strengthening primary healthcare, improving access to quality and affordable healthcare, expanding diagnostic and specialised services, accelerating digital health transformation, strengthening the health workforce and promoting local production of medicines, medical devices and diagnostics as key priorities.
Salako stressed that achieving the objectives would require stronger institutions, sustainable financing, innovative technologies, skilled human resources and strategic international partnerships.
He said Nigeria-China health cooperation had continued to expand, with opportunities in hospital development, medical technology, diagnostics, digital health, research, workforce development and local manufacturing.
The minister also highlighted pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical equipment procurement and maintenance, as well as specialised training in traditional and phytomedicine, as emerging areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Salako welcomed the growing emphasis on China-Africa health cooperation, particularly initiatives focused on hospital collaboration and institution-to-institution partnerships across the continent.
However, he cautioned that sustainable transformation of Nigeria’s health system could not be achieved through the provision of medical equipment alone.
He stressed the need for medical equipment to be appropriate to local conditions, health workers adequately trained, maintenance and quality-assurance systems established, and technologies properly integrated into resilient national health systems.
The minister said Nigeria remained open to deeper collaboration with China and other international partners in medical equipment and health technologies, hospital development and clinical engineering, laboratory medicine and diagnostics, digital health and artificial intelligence.
Other areas identified for collaboration include research and innovation, health workforce development, technology transfer, local manufacturing and health emergency preparedness.
Salako also noted that global health challenges, including pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, climate-related health threats and health inequalities, required coordinated international action.
He urged participants at China-HOSPEQ 2026 to transform the opportunities provided by the conference into practical partnerships and sustainable investments in the health sector.
“Let us move from exhibition to implementation, from innovation to impact, and from partnership to sustainable capacity,” the minister said.
The statement was signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
