WHX Lagos 2026: Driving Healthcare Transformation and Market Readiness in West Africa
The 2026 edition of the World Health Expo (WHX Lagos 2026), previously known as Medic West Africa, has officially opened in Lagos, establishing itself as the premier healthcare trade, medicine, and innovation platform in the West African sub-region.
The event, held under the organization of Informa Markets, welcomed over 8,000 healthcare professionals and 500 exhibitors from 40 countries. The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaq Adekunle Salako, inaugurated the expo on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), highlighting its critical role in shaping West Africa’s healthcare future.
Advancing Healthcare Through Local Manufacturing and Strategic Interventions
Dr. Salako addressed a stark reality at the expo: between 85% and 99% of medical equipment and in vitro diagnostics used in West Africa are imported. To tackle this dependency, the Nigerian federal government has launched aggressive initiatives aimed at breaking supply chain vulnerabilities and boosting local manufacturing capacity.
Key presidential directives discussed include the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order focused on pharmaceutical and allied sectors. These initiatives aim to enhance health security, stimulate economic growth, and increase employment through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and strategic private-sector collaboration.
The federal commitment to healthcare advancement is further demonstrated by the inauguration of the $1.2 billion Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) initiative, which encompasses financing reforms, workforce development, and infrastructure upgrades. For the 2025 fiscal year alone, the government allocated ₦402 billion specifically for health sector infrastructure investment.
Expanding Health Infrastructure Nationwide
In a collaborative effort with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), a phased health infrastructure upgrade program is underway. This project is delivering modern oncology and nuclear medicine centers across six tertiary hospitals, establishing 22 state-of-the-art medical diagnostic centers, seven cardiac catheterization laboratories, and expanding radiology and clinical pathology capabilities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Nigeria and West Africa: A Growing Healthcare Market
Nigeria’s healthcare sector is forecasted to grow at an impressive rate of 7.1%, reaching a market value of $161.7 million by 2027. The wider West African healthcare market is valued at over $11 billion, presenting significant investment opportunities.
Dr. Salako warmly invited global investors and innovators to harness this potential, positioning WHX Lagos as a vital platform for translating investment ambitions into enhanced technology access for hospitals and patients.
Voices from the Healthcare Sector
Uniting Fragmented Healthcare Growth
Dr. Ifunanya Ilodibe, CEO of EHA Clinics, emphasized the importance of bringing together fragmented growth in West Africa’s healthcare system. She praised WHX for providing a critical ecosystem that connects policymakers, clinicians, and investors to drive actionable strategies and meaningful transformation.
Breaking Barriers to Health Tech Financing
Njide Ndili, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and Country Director of PharmAccess, addressed the challenges of financial bottlenecks faced by local health tech companies. She highlighted HFN’s role in bridging health financing gaps, enabling healthcare businesses to scale sustainably with long-term patient capital.
Ndili further underscored the need to design healthcare products tailored to Nigerian market realities, advance local manufacturing, ensure quality, and achieve scale. She also lauded Africa CDC’s interventions during health crises and encouraged participants to foster collaborations for scaling locally produced medical equipment.
A Vision for Health Sovereignty in Lagos State
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi, outlined the state’s vision centered on health sovereignty, focusing on affordability and maintenance. He highlighted Lagos State’s enforcement of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, mandating health insurance coverage for all residents to build a resilient financial structure for healthcare access.
Prof. Abayomi also stressed the importance of collecting clean, indigenous data to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations, which are essential for transforming Nigerian healthcare technologies.
Lessons and Opportunities from Past Health Crises
In the keynote address, Prof. Aliko Ahmed, Special Regional Representative of the Africa CDC Western Regional Coordinating Centre, reflected on insights gained from Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks. These crises exposed significant vulnerabilities but also revealed opportunities for Nigeria and Africa to enhance their roles within the global health architecture.
Prof. Ahmed warned against reliance on external aid as unsustainable for long-term health sovereignty. He called for bold policy actions aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to foster intra-continental trade and build trust in locally manufactured healthcare products as a cornerstone for Africa’s health future.
About WHX Lagos 2026
WHX Lagos 2026 spans three days and features accredited forums, cutting-edge product showcases, and high-level networking opportunities. The event serves as a critical driver in translating billions of public and private investments into immediate access to advanced healthcare technologies for hospitals and patients across West Africa.
