Telemedicine Key to Bridging Healthcare Gaps Across Nigeria- Salako

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to advancing telemedicine and digital health innovation as core strategies for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and equitable access to healthcare across Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the Nigeria Telehealth Conference 2025, themed “Scaling Telehealth for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Pathway to Sustainability,” the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the event represented a major step in the country’s efforts to harness technology for improved healthcare delivery.

“Technology is a catalyst for transforming our health system. Telemedicine bridges workforce gaps and connects rural or under-resourced communities to qualified doctors,” Salako said.

He reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Health remained committed to breaking both physical and financial barriers to quality healthcare, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on delivering accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare as part of a broader national health transformation drive.

Salako explained that the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative was created to modernise the nation’s health infrastructure, with the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative serving as a major implementation pillar.

“This initiative champions a unified and secure health data architecture that supports innovation and better decision-making across the healthcare ecosystem,” he stated.

The minister added that the conference provided a platform for showcasing emerging innovations in digital health — including e-prescription systems, immunisation tracking, electronic referrals, and digital claims management.

“Interoperability is not just a technical concept; it ensures no data, no patient, and no community is left behind in Nigeria’s digital health revolution,” he emphasised.

While acknowledging persistent challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited digital literacy, data privacy issues, and regulatory gaps, Salako assured that the ministry was working closely with private sector players and development partners to address them.

He disclosed that the government was finalising new guidelines and governance frameworks to improve quality assurance, security, and accountability within Nigeria’s telemedicine ecosystem.

Deliberations from the conference, he said, would inform the forthcoming National Telehealth Sustainability Framework, to be presented at the National Council on Health later in November.

“The framework will serve as a blueprint for integrating telemedicine into Nigeria’s health system, addressing standards, financing, digital infrastructure, and workforce readiness nationwide,” Salako concluded.