Swiss healthcare company expands operations to Nigeria

Swiss healthcare firm Roche Diagnostics has launched a new diagnostics legal entity in Nigeria to deepen access to innovative healthcare and improve diagnostics capacity across West Africa.

According to a statement, the Country Manager of Roche Diagnostics Africa, Roberto Taboada, announced the development at an event in Lagos, describing it as “a significant step towards achieving sustainable healthcare transformation in Nigeria”.

He said the move aligns with the company’s 10-year diagnostics strategy for Africa, which aims to increase access to in vitro diagnostics tenfold.

“This expansion aligns with Roche’s 10-year diagnostics strategy for Africa,” he said. “Africa, home to 54 countries and over 1.5 billion people, bears 25 per cent of the global health burden but receives only one per cent of the global health budget and is served by just three per cent of the global health workforce.”

Taboada explained that the newly launched Nigerian entity would serve as a regional hub for Roche’s operations across Anglophone West Africa, ensuring faster access to its diagnostics solutions.

“This will enable us to engage directly with our customers, strengthen our partnerships with healthcare providers, improve supply chain efficiency and ultimately support Nigeria’s journey to universal health coverage,” he said.

Director of Strategy and Innovation, Africa, Roche Diagnostics, Jonathan Keytel, said Nigeria remains a critical partner in the firm’s long-term vision for healthcare on the continent.

“Nigeria is a critical partner in Roche’s mission to deliver better health outcomes through diagnostic innovation,” he said.

Keytel said the company’s 10x strategy is anchored on organisational growth, increased access to diagnostics, and innovative business models tailored to African realities.

“The newly launched Nigerian affiliate is expected to bring Roche closer to its customers and partners, improving logistics, supply chains, and turnaround times,” he said.

He noted that the presence of Roche in Nigeria would facilitate faster diagnoses and earlier treatments, which would, in turn, improve outcomes for patients and reduce costs for the healthcare system.

“Our presence here is about building resilient health systems. It’s about working with Nigerians to co-create solutions that work for Nigeria. What succeeds in Europe or the United States might not work here, but together, we can innovate in ways that truly meet local needs,” he said.

Keytel added that the firm’s expansion in Nigeria would strengthen its collaboration with governments, civil society, and the broader healthcare ecosystem.

“With this launch, we strengthen our role in delivering innovative diagnostic solutions that improve healthcare outcomes for more patients where it is needed most,” he said. “Nigeria is a critical market, and this investment supports our long-term vision for healthcare in Africa.”