The Nigerian National Mirror/Technical Committee on Electromedical Equipment will adopt 16 International Standards on essential electro-medical equipment.

The Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Osita Aboloma, made this known at a webinar on Wednesday in Lagos.

Aboloma was represented by Mrs Chinyere Egwuonwu, the Director, Standards Development, at the programme.

According to him, the 16 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)/International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards has become global requirements in the fight against the ongoing pandemic.

Aboloma said that there had been an increase in the global demands for the production and consumption of quality, safe and dependable medical equipment and systems in their varied brands.

“As a result, responding to the emergency demands foisted on medical systems globally has consequently challenged the National Standards development bodies to ensure the availability of standards in order to continuously save lives,” he said.

Aboloma reiterated the sensitivity of the medical sector for reasons of safety, precision of equipment, functionalities and value for money in the face of the global health and economic challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He assured the technical committee of SON’s commitment to continuously guaranteeing availability of standards, creation of awareness and promotion of strict implementation and compliance in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities.

Aboloma said that the development and subsequent implementation and enforcement of the 16 standards, when approved by the Standards Council, would among others, encourage and support local production of medical devices, equipment and systems.