Business Day (Nigeria)

How Clina-lancet network of local laboratori­es strengthen­s clinical pathology investigat­ions in Nigeria

- ANTHONIA OBOKOH

Clina-lancet is building a local network of clinical laboratori­es to enhance pathologic­al investigat­ions in the country. This will strengthen Nigeria’s weak healthcare.

This local network of laboratori­es promises competitiv­e and affordable prices for live saving tests. Affordable prices for medical diagnosis will help deliver more of life saving tests to the millions of Nigerians who need these medical services.

In Nigeria, domestic laboratori­es need to be supported so that they can grow and reduce medical tourism, which costs Nigeria billions of naira every year.

Currently, Nigeria’s laboratori­es are undermined by lack of standard diagnostic equipment, one of the leading causes of under or misdiagnos­is in the country.

Clina- Lancet Laboratori­es is a member of the Cerba-lancet Africa joint venture. Cerba Healthcare SAS, the French owner of a global network of medical laboratori­es, is expanding in Africa by buying some of Lancet Laboratori­es’ operations in a deal that industry estimates show could be worth $59 million.

In Nigeria it is strengthen­ing the adoption and deployment of advanced laboratory technology in diagnosis through its network of local laboratori­es.

Par i s- based Cerba healthcare has decided to invest substantia­lly in the developmen­t of a local network of clinical pathology laboratori­es in Africa’s most populous country through a grand opening of the new and modern diagnostic facility of Clina-lancet laboratori­es recently in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

To illustrate Cerba healthcare’s commitment and readiness, the group of laboratori­es which cut across Nigeria is Internatio­nal Standards Organisati­ons (ISO) certified with ISO 15189 standards in recognitio­n that its processes and procedures are at par with global standards. This is also validated by its internatio­nal accreditat­ion by SANAS 15189: 2012.

“This particular branch plays a strategic role in the company’s commitment to provide its quota in the delivery of universal health coverage by rendering quality world-class diagnostic services in Nigeria,” said Olayemi Dawodu, managing director/ chief executive officer of Clina- Lancet laboratori­es.

According to Dawodu, Clina Lancet Laboratori­es is an ultramoder­n technologi­cally advanced and independen­t pathology laboratory in Lagos that has now unveiled its world- class facility in Abuja. Our decision to open a new branch here is in line with our vision and commitment to providing internatio­nal standard services and as an organisati­on; we are looking forward to serving the good people of Abuja.

She further said they are a long-standing group of laboratori­es and a leading medical diagnostic­s firm in Nigeria focusing on clinical pathology, providing over 4,000 test offerings covering haematolog­y, chemical pathology, endocrinol­ogy, histology, molecular biology, cytogeneti­c, microbiolo­gy among others.

“Our goal is to provide medical laboratory, consultati­ve and referral services with the most extensive range of tests available,” Dawodu explained.

To ensure the sustainabi­lity of such investment­s, the company commits to providing laboratory services of internatio­nal standards with 100 percent accurate and reliable test results at all times. And it is strategica­lly positioned to serve healthcare, corporate and environmen­tal service delivery in the FCT and the public.

According to the World Health Organisat i o n (WHO), non-communicab­le diseases (NCDS) including stroke, cardiovasc­ular diseases, cancers, chronic respirator­y diseases, and diabetes are estimated to account for 71 percent of the 57 million global deaths. In Nigeria NCDS are estimated to account for 29 percent of all deaths (2.1M). Early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer improves outcomes by providing care at the earliest possible stage.

Also speaking at the launch, Jerome Thill, chief executive officer of Cerba Healthcare articulate­d that as Cerba Healthcare continues to build on its experience and partnershi­p with experts to expand clinical pathology in Africa and deploy a quality service to the medical community, Nigerians and other resident in the country will be the better for it.

“Cerba Healthcare has decided to invest substantia­lly in building a local network of clinical pathology laboratori­es on the African continent. We are also making plans to put in place grassroots quality healthcare not only in FCT but across the nation,” Stephan Carre, CEO of Cerba-lancet Africa.

Clina Lancet Laboratori­es currently functions in various parts of the country with branches in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Abuja.

 ??  ?? From Right: Uche Ekpe, NMA chairman, Abuja representi­ng the National President; Ejiro Kragha-ogomigo, medical director, Obisus Medical Services; Stephane Carre, CEO, Cerba Lancet Africa; Shaibu Musa, managing director, NNPC Medical Services; Olayemi Dawodu, MD/CEO, Clina Lancet Nigeria; Jérôme Pasquier, ambassador of France to Nigeria; Adaeze Oreh, senior health policy advisor, Federal Ministry of Health; Babatunde Irukera, director general, Federal Competitio­n and Consumer Protection Commission; Jerome Thill, deputy senior executive officer, Cerba Lancet Africa, and Matthieu Gogue, general manager and COO
From Right: Uche Ekpe, NMA chairman, Abuja representi­ng the National President; Ejiro Kragha-ogomigo, medical director, Obisus Medical Services; Stephane Carre, CEO, Cerba Lancet Africa; Shaibu Musa, managing director, NNPC Medical Services; Olayemi Dawodu, MD/CEO, Clina Lancet Nigeria; Jérôme Pasquier, ambassador of France to Nigeria; Adaeze Oreh, senior health policy advisor, Federal Ministry of Health; Babatunde Irukera, director general, Federal Competitio­n and Consumer Protection Commission; Jerome Thill, deputy senior executive officer, Cerba Lancet Africa, and Matthieu Gogue, general manager and COO

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