Nigeria’s diagnostic landscape is undergoing a quiet transformation.
Not long ago, accessing reliable tests outside a handful of major teaching hospitals meant long domestic travel or costly trips abroad for advanced scans, for those who could afford them.
Infrastructure was a major constraint.
Much of the available equipment was outdated, poorly maintained, or frequently out of service. Advanced imaging technology was scarce, and where it existed, demand often overwhelmed supply.
That picture is changing, according to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the Nigerian clinical laboratory services market is projected to grow from about $641 million in 2025 to $670.8 million dollars in 2026, and is forecast to reach $841.92 million by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 4.65% between 2026 and 2031.
That expansion did not happen on its own. Behind the sector’s steady growth are a group of chief executives and founders who have quietly redefined what diagnostic care looks like in Nigeria.
Here are the CEO’s of Nigeria’s major diagnostic centres
Dr. Alok Bhatia has led ECHOLAB Radiology and Laboratory Services as Chief Executive Officer since March 2021.
A Pediatrician turned healthcare executive, he has extensive experience in diagnostics, primary healthcare, hospital management, and quality assurance in clinical services.
He is a graduate of Amritsar Medical College and an alumnus of Lady Hardinge Medical College. He also holds a certificate of achievement in Fundamentals of Genetics and Immunology from Harvard Medical School HMX.
Prior to joining ECHOLAB, Dr. Bhatia founded and led multiple healthcare ventures, including 360 Diagnostic & Health Services, Afriglobal Medicare, and Neo DStress Institute, focusing on diagnostics, hospital infrastructure, training, and strategic expansion.
ECHOLAB provides comprehensive diagnostic services, including radiology, pathology, histology, and cardiology. Radiology services cover X-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, and intravenous urography.
Cardiology services include ECG and related physiology tests. Pathology and laboratory services include microbiology, chemical pathology, haematology, immunoassays, molecular testing, cytology, and histology.
The network operates multiple locations across Lagos, Abuja, Mararaba, Kaduna, Benin, Asaba and Oghara.
