Roche Diagnostics, the world’s largest biotechnology company, has launched its new diagnostics legal entity in Nigeria in a key move to boost access to healthcare in the country.
With this opening, Nigeria joins five other networks across Africa, including South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, making diagnostics accessible at the point of need in a continent that houses more than 1.5 million people.
This expansion aligns with Roche’s 10-Year Diagnostics Strategy for Africa, which aims to increase access to in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) tenfold. As one of Africa’s largest economies and most populous nations, Nigeria presents significant opportunities for healthcare investment and innovation.
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“As a multinational, it’s easier to come to Nigeria as a distributor. But we’re bringing all our technologies, expertise to the country with this launch,” Roberto Taboada, general manager, Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa Lead, Roche Diagnostics, told journalists at the launch in Lagos, Monday.
Taboada emphasised that his firm seeks to provide, among other things, tissue and molecular diagnostics and near-patient care, reinforcing Roche’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality diagnostics.
With a history of over 70 years in Africa, Roche aims to offer expertise in diagnostics infrastructure, systems optimisation, process harmonisation, skills transfer, capacity building and workforce mobilisation, efforts critical to scaling up access to healthcare on the continent and improving patients’ quality of life.
Having the most youthful population, Africa carries 25% of the global health burden but only 1% of the global health budget and 3% of the global health workforce.
Roche is looking to change the narrative by partnering with local governments and domestic funding institutions.
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“With this launch, we strengthen our role in delivering innovative diagnostics solutions that improve healthcare outcomes for more patients where it is needed most,” said Jonathan Keytel, director, Strategy and Innovation, Roche Diagnostics, Africa. “Nigeria is a critical market, and this investment supports our long-term vision for healthcare in Africa.”
The new legal entity will enhance Roche’s ability to engage directly with customers, improve supply chain efficiency, and strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers. It will also enable stronger collaborations that support Nigeria’s journey to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“This is a significant step towards achieving sustainable healthcare transformation in Nigeria. By working closely with local stakeholders, we are creating a more responsive diagnostics ecosystem,” Taboada added.
The new entity will serve as a hub that supports Roche engagements across Anglophone West Africa, ensuring faster access to Roche’s reliable diagnostics solutions.
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