Health sector stakeholders have called for increased investment in the training of biomedical engineers within Nigeria, arguing that building local expertise is essential to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring the sustainability of medical equipment.
The stakeholders said developing a skilled in-country biomedical engineering workforce would reduce dependence on foreign technical support, improve the maintenance of medical equipment and strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system.
Biomedical engineers play a critical role in installing, maintaining and repairing diagnostic and treatment equipment used in hospitals and other health facilities. Experts say shortages of trained personnel have contributed to equipment downtime, increased maintenance costs and disruptions to healthcare services in many parts of the country.
Participants at the discussions emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, universities, teaching hospitals and the private sector to expand training opportunities and align academic programmes with industry needs.
They also called for greater investment in technical education, professional certification and continuous capacity building to ensure biomedical engineers are equipped to manage increasingly advanced healthcare technologies.
Health experts noted that strengthening local technical capacity could improve the lifespan and functionality of medical equipment, enhance patient care and reduce the financial burden associated with outsourcing maintenance and repairs.
The stakeholders further urged policymakers to incorporate biomedical engineering into long-term healthcare planning, describing local capacity development as a key component of building a more self-reliant and sustainable health sector.
They said sustained investment in human capital and technical expertise would help improve healthcare outcomes while supporting Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen its health infrastructure and reduce dependence on external support.
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