SYNLAB Nigeria Advocates Private Sector Participation in Public Health Sector.

The Chief Executive Officer, SYNLAB Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie, has called for enhanced regulation of Nigerian public and private health institutions, to motivate practitioners and businesses on ethical standards and patient wellbeing.

Okolie made this call while speaking at a Health for All webinar, the maiden session of SYNLAB Nigeria Webinar series.
He opined that a more integrated private sector participation is necessary to ensure access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.

The CEO said functional and excellently maintained Primary Health Care facilities as well as strong accountability frameworks that ensure professionalism and proper utilisation of available resources are essential for improving the availability and access to quality healthcare in Nigeria. He highlighted that a shortage of motivated and skilled manpower, which is further compounded by the migration of skilled workforce (Japa) is a key issue that needed to be addressed, as the long-term impact was worrisome.

He also noted that while it was public knowledge that the health sector could do with better funding, it has become extremely important that the issues of accountability (with respect to improper management of available financial and other material resources) within the public sector was addressed head-on.

According to him, adequate financing and effective implementation of the universal basic health coverage act would help steer the sector from its current state to a more desirable future state.

Speaking on Health Equity during the event, a health technology finance professional, Dr Dami Adeyemi- Levites, said that healthcare financing could help to reduce the financial barriers to accessing healthcare services through insurance coverage. He opined that healthcare financing could reduce the out-of-pocket costs for patients, stressing that out-of-pocket costs account for about 70 percent of all healthcare expenditure in Nigeria.
Adeyemi-Levites further stated that collaborative drive was needed for healthcare tech companies to share data and drive better healthcare outcomes for end users. He called for improved government policies and health care spending interventions to achieve health equity.

Also speaking on Preventive Health at the Health for All webinar, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor asserted that Nigeria needed to focus on preventive healthcare, as this would help both the individual and the nation in ensuring health for all.
Egemba recommended that regular health checks, screenings, immunisation and good health-seeking behaviors would ensure prevention of diseases.
He also opined that health literacy was important for quality healthcare, stressing that a knowledgeable person would be mindful of activities that either promote or undermine his health.

Meanwhile, in continuation of its quest to make quality medical diagnostics services available to Nigerians, SYNLAB Nigeria has launched an e-commerce site. The platform provides the public opportunity to access SYNLAB’s exceptional services from the comfort of their various locations.

Speaking on the launch of the platform, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Organisation, Okolie said the platform was designed to increase access to the organisation’s services and convenience in the process of accessing the service. The CEO said that, recognising the necessity for quality diagnostics services, SYNLAB Nigeria sought to ensure that lack of access to its physical locations did not hinder anyone from enjoying its services.
He emphasised that although the organisation has continued to expand its physical facilities across the country, it has become necessary to equally provide quick access to the online community for convenience and speed.

‘As an organisation that values innovation, SYNLAB Nigeria is not just a Medical laboratory Service company but also one keen on Fussing Technology in its operations and overall service delivery. We leverage technology in ensuring that our customers get excellent services at the comfort of their location’. The CEO urged Nigerians to take advantage of the platform to ensure they receive quality diagnostic information that guaranteed a healthier life for themselves and their loved ones. ‘Yes, Nigerians in the diaspora can easily book for test for their loved ones in Nigeria; when the test is carried out, they can get the results and be able to properly attend to the health needs of their loved ones without being present in the country’.

SYNLAB Nigeria is a member of the SYNLAB group, with presence in over 35 countries in four continents. The organisation has over 30 active locations across Nigeria and has been ISO 15189 certified since 2006.
SYNLAB Group is the leader in medical diagnostic services and specialty testing in Europe. The Group offers a full range of innovative and reliable medical diagnostics to patients, practicing doctors, hospitals and clinics, governments and corporates.
Providing the leading level of service within the industry, SYNLAB is the partner of choice for routine and specialty diagnostics in human and veterinary medicine.