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‎Leading laboratory physician Dr. Modupe Kuti has issued a clarion call for a national conversation on personalized medicine, urging stakeholders to begin building the infrastructure, policies, and partnerships necessary to make individualized healthcare a reality in Nigeria.
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Speaking at the latest SYNLAB Nigeria public health webinar, held as part of the company’s quarterly health education series, Dr. Kuti emphasized the need for Nigeria to join the conversation and the movement, noting that a growing body of global evidence supports the shift from generalized healthcare to more individualized treatment approaches.
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The event, themed “Personalized Medicine: The Future of Healthcare,” moderated by Dr. Afolabi Obe, Chief Medical Officer of SYNLAB Nigeria, underscores SYNLAB’s commitment to driving innovation and public awareness around cutting-edge healthcare practices.
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Delivering the webinar, Dr. Kuti, explained that personalized medicine involves tailoring medical care to an individual’s genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment. He noted that this approach enables medical practitioners to treat people, not just diseases. “It allows for better disease prediction, prevention, and treatment outcomes.”
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He traced the origins of personalized medicine to the Human Genome Project and highlighted how advances in genomics have laid the foundation for precision healthcare. The presentation explored key areas such as pharmacogenomics, which examines how genes influence drug responses. Dr Kuti explained that up to 60% of individuals can react differently to the same medication, emphasizing that Pharmacogenetic screening is not just an academic exercise, but an exercise that can save lives and improve quality of care.
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He also spotlighted personalized applications in oncology, where gene-based therapies and companion diagnostics help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from specific treatments. Beyond disease treatment, he showcased how genetic testing is now informing everyday health decisions, from how people metabolize caffeine to how they respond to fats and sugars in their diets.
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While emphasizing the possibilities in precision medicine, Dr Kuti did not fail to point out the systemic barriers facing implementation in Nigeria. including cost, lack of infrastructure, limited awareness, and a notable scarcity of African genetic data in global databases.
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“We must not be left behind,” he cautioned. “A national ecosystem is required, one that involves government, regulators, scientists, health institutions, and insurers. Only then can we ensure access, affordability, and equity in personalized care.”
‎He stressed the importance of integrating genetic testing into national health insurance schemes and encouraged more research collaborations to fill the data gap on African populations.
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Addressing audience concerns about data privacy, Dr. Kuti reaffirmed the need for strong ethical safeguards, especially given the sensitive and permanent nature of genetic information.
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SYNLAB Nigeria is a member of the SYNLAB group, with presence in 33 countries on four continents. The organization has over 30 active locations across Nigeria and has been ISO 15189 certified since 2006.
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SYNLAB Group is the leader in medical diagnostic services and specialty testing in Europe. The Group offers a full range of innovative and reliable medical diagnostics to patients, practicing doctors, hospitals and clinics, governments, and corporations.
‎Providing the leading level of service within the industry, SYNLAB is the partner of choice for routine and specialty diagnostics in human and veterinary medicine.
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The Group continuously innovates medical diagnostic services for the benefit of patients and customers.
‎SYNLAB holds leading positions in most markets, regularly reinforcing the strength of its network through a proven acquisition strategy.
‎More information can be found on www.synlab.com, www.synlab.com.ng