FG eyes tech-driven universal health coverage for Nigerians

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening telemedicine and digital health systems as part of efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare across Nigeria.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during the Nigeria Telehealth Conference 2025, themed “Scaling Telehealth for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Pathway to Sustainability.”

Describing the conference as a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital health journey, Salako said technology remains a powerful tool for transforming healthcare delivery and addressing workforce shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

“Telemedicine bridges workforce shortages and connects under-resourced communities to qualified doctors,” the minister said.

He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places strong emphasis on equitable, affordable, and accessible healthcare for all Nigerians, ensuring that no one is left behind in the country’s ongoing health sector reforms.

Salako explained that the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative are key to building a modern, data-driven healthcare system.

The initiatives, he said, aim to promote secure health data management, foster innovation, and enhance evidence-based decision-making nationwide.

He further revealed that the ministry is finalizing guidelines and governance frameworks to strengthen quality assurance, data security, and accountability in telemedicine and digital health operations.

According to him, the forthcoming National Telehealth Sustainability Framework, set to be presented at the National Council on Health later this month, will provide a roadmap for integrating telemedicine into Nigeria’s healthcare structure.

In her remarks, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, FCT, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, shared progress made with telemedicine projects in primary healthcare centres across the Federal Capital Territory.

She highlighted the first telemedicine booth at Dutse Makaranta Primary Health Centre, launched in partnership with MobiHealth International, noting that remote consultations had improved maternal health outcomes, increased skilled birth attendance from 25% to 102%, and connected patients with specialists nationwide.

Also speaking, Dr. Fumi Adewara stressed the importance of making telemedicine a permanent pillar of Nigeria’s healthcare system to promote inclusivity and accessibility.

“Quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Through telemedicine, we bring doctors closer to underserved Nigerians and bridge the urban–rural health divide,” Adewara said.

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, also commended the conference for highlighting the role of digital innovation in improving national health security.

He noted that telemedicine enables real-time medical response and disease surveillance, particularly during outbreaks.

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