Nigeria, China Deepen Health Ties as FG Pushes AI, Local Medical Manufacturing

"Nigeria was seeking to move its health cooperation with China beyond traditional trade relations to strategic partnerships capable of strengthening the country’s healthcare system and improving health outcomes." Salako.

.... Identifies primary healthcare, affordable and quality medical services, specialised and diagnostic services, digital health, artificial intelligence, health workforce development and local production of medicines, medical devices and diagnostics as key priorities of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to deepen Nigeria’s health partnership with China, with a renewed focus on artificial intelligence, medical technology, diagnostics, hospital development and local manufacturing of medicines and medical devices.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed 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 Nigeria was seeking to move its health cooperation with China beyond traditional trade relations to strategic partnerships capable of strengthening the country’s healthcare system and improving health outcomes.

He identified primary healthcare, affordable and quality medical services, specialised and diagnostic services, digital health, artificial intelligence, health workforce development and local production of medicines, medical devices and diagnostics as key priorities of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, achieving these objectives would require stronger institutions, sustainable financing, innovative technologies, skilled manpower and strategic international partnerships.

The Minister described China-HOSPEQ as more than an exhibition of medical equipment, saying the platform provided an opportunity for Nigeria to identify technologies and innovations that were affordable, appropriate, scalable and responsive to the country’s healthcare needs.

He said Nigeria-China health cooperation had continued to expand into hospital development, medical technology, diagnostics, digital health, research, workforce development and local manufacturing, while also highlighting pharmaceutical production, medical equipment procurement and maintenance, and specialised training in traditional and phytomedicine.

Salako, however, cautioned that sustainable transformation of Nigeria’s health system could not be achieved through the supply of medical equipment alone.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that equipment was appropriate to local conditions, health workers were properly trained, maintenance and quality-assurance systems were established, and new technologies were effectively integrated into resilient national health systems.

He said Nigeria remained open to deeper collaboration with China and other international partners in hospital development, clinical engineering, laboratory medicine, diagnostics, digital health and AI, research and innovation, health workforce development, technology transfer, local manufacturing and emergency preparedness.

The minister also called for greater international cooperation in tackling emerging global health threats, including pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, climate-related health challenges and health inequalities.

Salako urged Chinese investors, technology providers and other participants at the conference to move beyond exhibitions and discussions towards concrete investments and sustainable partnerships.

“Let us move from exhibition to implementation, from innovation to impact, and from partnership to sustainable capacity,” he said.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director Press and Public Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja.