The World Health Expo (WHX) in Lagos is set to host the Hospital Investment & Buyer Leadership Forum on June 3, 2026, aiming to tackle critical challenges in West Africa's health supply chain. The event, in collaboration with ABCHealth, will focus on pathways to localize the region's medical supply chain, addressing issues like import dependency and foreign exchange volatility.
West Africa's in vitro diagnostics (IVD) market is valued at US$0.988 billion in 2025 and is forecasted to reach US$1.388 billion by 2034, growing at a 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Concurrently, the broader African medical supplies market is experiencing significant expansion, projected to grow from US$6.5 billion in 2025 to US$11.18 billion by 2031, with a 10.4% CAGR. Pharmaceutical imports, heavily influenced by Nigeria's 60% regional share, are anticipated to hit US$6.5 billion by 2030, placing a strain on existing cold-chain and logistics infrastructure.
Despite this growth, regional healthcare facilities grapple with substantial vulnerabilities. An import dependency rate of 85–99% for medical equipment and IVDs results in delivery delays of two to four weeks and significant operational downtime. Furthermore, foreign exchange shortages contribute to cost volatility, and over 70% of healthcare spending being out-of-pocket necessitates urgent efficiency improvements.
In response, procurement leaders are shifting towards service-led sourcing, foreign exchange-hedged contracts, and strategic inventory buffering for reagents. Regional suppliers are already demonstrating their value by offering lead times that are 30–40% faster.
Under the theme “Advancing hospital growth and innovation: Investment, strategic partnerships, and technology adoption in West Africa,” the forum will provide insights into policies such as Nigeria’s duty waivers. Attendees will also explore benchmarking regional manufacturers, securing framework agreements for crisis-resilient supply chains, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) reforms and donor funding for transparent, technology-enabled systems.
Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director – Healthcare at Informa Markets, highlighted the forum's objective: “The Hospital Investment & Buyer Leadership Forum at WHX turns these challenges into opportunities. Leaders can secure framework agreements with vetted suppliers, tap AfCFTA and policy incentives like Nigeria’s duty waivers, and build crisis-resilient systems.”
A 2026 WHX report titled ‘Building Resilient Healthcare Supply Chains in West Africa’ indicates a structural shift towards localization is gaining momentum. Afreximbank's US$75 million facility is supporting the production of devices, vaccines, and biologics. Nigeria is progressing towards its goal of achieving 70% local medicine output by 2030, an increase from 30% in 2024.
The AfCFTA is also accelerating the development of distribution hubs in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, facilitating blended Original Equipment Manufacturer-regional sourcing models. Smarter procurement strategies, such as the Africa’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2025 African Pooled Procurement Mechanism for diagnostics and Personal Protective Equipment, are expected to amplify these gains.
