The federal government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening telemedicine and digital health innovation as central strategies toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and equitable healthcare access across Nigeria.

The reaffirmation came on Thursday in Abuja at the Nigeria Telehealth Conference 2025, with key stakeholders highlighting progress and future strategies.

Deputy health minister Iziaq Salako said the event marked a milestone in Nigeria’s quest to leverage technology for improved national health outcomes and service delivery.

Mr Salako reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Health remained dedicated to reducing physical and financial barriers while expanding access to quality healthcare and saving lives in underserved areas nationwide.

He said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed to ensure equitable, accessible, and affordable healthcare, leaving no Nigerian behind in the nation’s health transformation journey.

Mr Salako explained that the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative was established to modernise the health system, with the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative serving as a major implementation pillar.

He added that the conference provided a national platform for showcasing innovative digital health solutions in areas such as e-prescription, immunisation tracking, referrals, and health insurance claims management systems.

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

He acknowledged challenges such as infrastructure deficits, limited digital literacy, data privacy concerns, and regulatory gaps, but assured ongoing collaboration with development partners and the private sector.

According to him, the ministry is finalising guidelines and governance frameworks to strengthen quality assurance, security, and accountability within Nigeria’s telemedicine and broader digital health ecosystem.

Mr Salako said deliberations from the conference would inform the forthcoming National Telehealth Sustainability Framework, expected to be presented at the National Council on Health later in November.

In her goodwill remarks, Dolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary for Health Services and Environment, FCT, described the conference as a milestone in advancing sustainable healthcare delivery in the territory.

Ms Fasawe said that the FCT had commenced telemedicine operations at primary health centres, with the first telemedicine booth inaugurated at Dutse Makaranta Primary Health Centre through a partnership with MobiHealth International.

She added that remote consultations had linked patients to cardiologists and paediatricians while enabling pregnant women under the FCT health insurance scheme to access free and timely delivery services.

Ms Fasawe said the FCT achieved a remarkable rise in skilled birth attendance, increasing from 25 per cent to 102 per cent, through improved service delivery, monitoring, and accountability measures.

(NAN)