Health
Pathologists seek digital innovations to transform cancer diagnosis in West Africa
As artificial intelligence and technology increasingly reshape global healthcare delivery, pathologists in Nigeria and across West Africa have urged their colleagues to embrace digital innovations to transform cancer diagnosis and improve patient care.
The pathologists, under the aegis of the West African Division of the International Academy of Pathology, also stressed the need for stronger governance and strategic partnerships to remain globally competitive in pathology and laboratory medicine and boost healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the 16th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of WADIAP in Lagos, tagged EKOPATH 2026, the experts decried the shortage of pathology specialists and called for greater investment in pathology services to strengthen cancer diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria and West Africa.
The pathologists described pathology as the bedrock of modern medicine, stressing that it is a vital medical specialty that helps doctors understand the causes and progression of diseases, diagnose conditions accurately and determine appropriate treatment for patients.
Pathology is the study of disease and also the bridge between science and medicine, according to the Royal College of Pathologists.
Across the world, AI is changing the way doctors diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases.
The three-day EKOPATH 2026 Regional Conference, with the theme, “Future-Proofing Pathology in West Africa: Integrating Quality, Innovation, and Regional Synergy,” brought together leading anatomical and molecular pathologists, laboratory scientists, oncologists and healthcare policymakers from across West Africa and the international medical community.
In her address, the President of WADIAP, Prof. Fatimah AbdulKareem, said African pathologists should be prepared, equipped and skilled for the pathology of the future, which is driven by technology.
AbdulKareem, who is the Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said systems should be put in place to make future pathology relevant and enable pathologists to go beyond making diagnoses to becoming involved in determining the specific treatment of patients.
The Professor of Anatomic Pathology said, “Pathology of the future should also be AI-compliant, in addition to being knowledgeable in the use of molecular diagnostics to be able to make specific diagnoses that are specific to the individual patient.
“They should also possess the knowledge to help oncologists determine the parameters that will indicate how well a patient is going to do. That is talking about prognosis — how a patient is going to fare and what treatment should be appropriate. Will this patient respond; will this patient not respond?”
AbdulKareem decried the number of pathologists currently practising in the country, disclosing that Nigeria has fewer than 200 pathologists serving a population of over 200 million people.
She lamented that young doctors were not interested in embracing pathology, while qualified specialists were migrating abroad.
“Right now, the number of pathologists in the country may not be up to 200.
“Even the ones that we are training, as they finish, as they qualify, they leave because they can easily get a job outside the country,” the don said.
The conference provided the experts with a platform to network, collaborate, and explore opportunities offered by AI and digital innovations to improve the quality of health services to patients and strengthen healthcare systems in West Africa.
It also addressed critical pathways for embedding quality systems, adopting digital and molecular innovations, and building resilient regional networks to transform cancer diagnosis and patient care.
The keynote speaker and Professor of Anatomic Pathology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Adekunbiola Banjo, urged participants to harness technology to provide standard care, reminding them that pathology is central to patient care.
Banjo, a Consultant Pathologist in the Department of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, said, “Digital tools will only deliver value if they rest on strong quality systems, skilled people, sustainable infrastructure and trusted governance.
“We should be committed to strengthening the pathology profession in West Africa and adopting innovation responsibly.”
She emphasised the need to collaborate across borders and make pathology visible in health policy, financing and planning.
Banjo also called for locally grounded and regionally reinforced pathology systems.
Citing the shortage of specialists, the don stressed the need to share scarce expertise, harmonise standards, strengthen procurement, coordinate training, support cross-border referrals and build specialist centres of excellence.
“There must be development of a tiered regional network. Primary and district laboratories must provide essential diagnostics, national referral laboratories must also provide advanced testing, and regional centres of excellence should provide specialised services,” the keynote speaker said.
Also speaking, an Anatomic and Forensic Pathologist, Prof. Francis Faduyile, stated that stronger collaboration and networking among pathologists across West Africa would improve healthcare systems and treatment outcomes in the region.
Faduyile, the Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District and former President of the Nigerian Medical Association, stressed the need to make the profession attractive and retain experts in the region as the “japa” syndrome depletes the healthcare workforce.
“We really need to find a way of halting those push factors,” he said, adding that the challenge was not limited to pathology but affected virtually every medical specialty.
Faduyile said legislators had a role to play in reversing the trend.
“We are going to see that we collaborate with colleagues to see that appropriate laws are put in place. We want to continue to help in the oversight function of what the executive arm does,” he said.
The senator, however, identified poor remuneration, economic hardship, insecurity and unfavourable working conditions as major push factors contributing to the migration of health workers abroad.
In his submission, a Professor of Pathology at the University of Ghana Medical School, Prof. Edwin Wiredu, said West Africa must build pathology systems capable of adapting to rapid technological changes.
According to him, countries that failed to establish resilient and futuristic systems would continue to spend heavily dismantling old structures whenever new technologies emerged.
“We need to build structures that are resilient, that are futuristic, so that when new technologies are introduced, we just fit in,” Wiredu said.
He called for urgent measures to attract more young doctors to pathology and retain trained specialists.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Prof. Usman Aliyu, said pathologists play a critical role in cancer diagnosis, describing them as the gateway to cancer treatment.
Aliyu pointed out that no cancer therapy could be appropriately administered without an accurate diagnosis and the involvement of pathologists.
According to him, pathologists examine tissue and other specimens taken from patients for evaluation, conduct laboratory tests and study cellular changes to determine whether a disease is cancerous and, where applicable, identify its characteristics.
He urged Nigerians to embrace healthy lifestyles to reduce the burden of cancer in the country.
Giving further insight into the conference theme, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of EKOPATH ’26, Dr Martins Momoh, said future-proofing pathology required specialised skills and not merely the acquisition of modern equipment.
Momoh explained that future-proofing pathology was about embracing bold innovations, from digital pathology to molecular diagnostics, to improve the standard of care and meet local health needs.
Momoh, a Consultant Pathologist and Histopathologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, noted, “Most importantly, it requires regional synergy, breaking down geographic and institutional silos, so that sub-regional collaboration can drive standard-setting, research and resource-sharing across West Africa.”
He called for improved working conditions and incentives to encourage healthcare professionals to remain in Nigeria and for young doctors to embrace the pathology profession.
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