Fifteen West African nations were represented at a regional, first-of-its-kind event to support the development and uptake of national Essential Diagnostics Lists (EDLs), as a critical step towards universal health coverage
FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), in collaboration with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), hosted representatives from 15 West African nations with the aim of accelerating access to essential diagnostics across the region. The first-of-its-kind event, held in Dakar, Senegal, on 20–21 October 2022, brought together ministry and laboratory network representatives, as well as partners from leading global health institutions.
The 15 countries represented were: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Diagnostic testing is integral to healthcare access and delivery, from primary care to laboratory services, and is a key enabler of universal health coverage (UHC). Latest research from the Lancet Commission on diagnostics (https://bit.ly/3srmDBb) shows that only 1 in 2 people has access to basic testing services – yet reducing the diagnostic gap for just six priority conditions could avert 1.1 million premature deaths in low- and middle-income countries every year.
The World Health Organization maintains a model Essential Diagnostics List (EDL) (https://bit.ly/3DpMqzS) – a basket of recommended types of tests to support the diagnosis of infectious and non-communicable diseases at each level of the healthcare system in settings with and without laboratories. Provided as a reference guide and benchmark, this list is not prescriptive and should be tailored by individual nations to meet specific population health needs.
Last week’s event aimed to kick-start the development of national EDLs across West Africa, as a lever to increase primary care-level access to essential tests (in vitro diagnostics and imaging), to strengthen key health infrastructures, and accelerate national and regional progress towards UHC.
Held over 2 days, delegates were welcomed by Professor Amadou Moctar Dieye, the Director of Laboratories in Senegal, with speakers and panellists including representatives from FIND, Africa CDC, ASLM, the West African Health Organization (WAHO), Nigerian Ministry of Health, the Lancet Commission, the World Bank and DATOS.
Attendees were invited to explore the landscape surrounding the selection, availability and uptake of essential diagnostics, and to map their individual route towards national EDLs. Key themes that emerged from discussions included: the importance of mapping existing diagnostic networks to understand gaps,and identify and prioritize actions; the need to strengthen surrounding health infrastructures, including laboratory services; the importance of embedding action within an enabling policy framework; and the need to secure sustainable financing that cuts across multiple diseases to meet identified priorities.