Lagos is set to welcome global healthcare leaders as the World Health Expo (WHX) 2026 officially opens at the Landmark Centre from June 2 to 4, 2026. The event will bring together healthcare leaders, distributors, buyers, investors, laboratory professionals, and policymakers from across West Africa and the world.
Gateway to West Africa's Healthcare Economy
Positioned as the gateway to the region's healthcare economy, WHX is expected to attract more than 8,000 professional visitors, over 500 exhibitors, participants from over 40 countries, and more than 30 expert speakers. The three-day event will focus on business networking, procurement discussions, investment opportunities, and industry insights.
Digitization Transforming African Healthcare
Digitization in African healthcare is yielding tangible results. Hospitals are centralizing data, reducing administrative costs, and maintaining seamless patient journeys from initial consultation to follow-up. According to WHX Insights, digital health investments in Africa reached US$3.8 billion in 2023 and are projected to grow at 23.4% annually, reaching US$16.6 billion by 2030. From operating rooms in Lagos to rural clinics in Kigali, technology is enabling more accurate diagnoses, lowering operational costs, and extending quality care to underserved communities.
Nigeria's Healthcare Market Evolution
Nigeria's healthcare market, serving a population of over 230 million, is undergoing a structural shift driven by rising demand for quality medical equipment, diagnostics, and digital-health infrastructure. The government's Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and Medipool-style pooled-procurement platforms are creating centralized routes for suppliers to access public-sector contracts at scale. This transformation positions Nigeria as a high-value procurement hub for device manufacturers, diagnostics firms, and digital-health providers across the region.
WHX will highlight how digitization delivers tangible returns on investment in African hospitals. From integrated electronic health records and AI-assisted imaging to smart lab workflows, suppliers will demonstrate how connected technologies reduce costs, shorten turnaround times, and improve patient outcomes. Nigerian hospitals and procurement bodies increasingly seek long-term value when outfitting diagnostic centers and treatment facilities.
Njide Ndili, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, stated: "As a leading platform for product discovery, WHX lets buyers explore and compare the full spectrum of healthcare and diagnostics products. By strengthening medical trade across West Africa, WHX helps accelerate procurement, unlock new supply chains, and scale innovations that widen access to quality care. The Healthcare Federation is proud to partner with WHX and convenes the Healthcare Market Access & Policy Leadership Forum during the exhibition."
Key Sectors and New Features
WHX brings together influential healthcare buyers, hospital managers, laboratory directors, and government-linked procurement bodies with curated global and regional suppliers. Key sectors include diagnostics, medical imaging, healthcare infrastructure, laboratory technologies, medical devices, IT solutions, wellness products, orthopaedics, physiotherapy, and healthcare services.
New features include an integrated Lab Zone showcasing diagnostics, equipment, and consumables with live demonstrations, hands-on workshops, expert insights, and buyer matchmaking. WHX Connect is a curated distributor networking program that connects verified distributors with key exhibitors to foster business connections across the supply chain.
Partner-Led Forums
The 2026 edition will feature three dynamic partner-led forums:
- Healthcare Market Access & Policy Leadership Forum on June 2, themed "Enabling Market-Ready Health Systems: The Role of Diagnostics, Digital Infrastructure, and Human Capital," in partnership with the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria.
- Hospital Investment & Buyer Leadership Forum on June 3, in collaboration with ABCHealth.
- Heads of Laboratory Forum on June 4, in partnership with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.
Each forum gathers top healthcare leaders to drive change in policy, investment, and decision-making across Nigeria and West Africa.
Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director – Healthcare at Informa Markets, said: "When WHX convenes in Lagos next week, it will be a real moment for the region. We’re bringing together buyers, suppliers, investors, and policy leaders to get deals done and ideas moving. WHX is a hub that accelerates collaboration across West Africa’s healthcare value chain, opening immediate opportunities for procurement, partnerships, and innovation."
The WHX portfolio includes three key healthcare events in Africa, held in Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Lagos, forming a unified platform connecting global brands with regional distributors.
