Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector is calling for the strategic use of digital health and public financing to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
They emphasised the critical roles these elements play in addressing the ongoing challenges within the healthcare system.
The call was made during the National Stakeholders Roundtable on Digital Health held on Thursday in Abuja, which focused on health sector reforms and the importance of digital health tools alongside a cohesive public financing strategy.
Senior health specialist at the World Bank, Dr. Olumide Okunola explained how public financing and digital transformation are essential to achieving UHC in Nigeria. He stated that digital health, when supported by robust public financing and cross-sector collaboration, could significantly improve the healthcare system and facilitate the attainment of UHC. However, he acknowledged that challenges such as governance, data integration and infrastructure need to be addressed.
Another senior expert from the World Bank, Dr. Marelize Gorgens emphasised that digitalisation is crucial for overcoming the persistent challenges within Nigeria’s healthcare system. “Digital health solutions provide Nigeria with a unique opportunity to enhance healthcare delivery, and empowering patients through technology is key,” she stated.
Gorgens pointed out the increasing prevalence of smartphones in Nigeria, stressing how mobile technology can enable citizens to better manage their health by storing personal health data on their devices. She added that digital tools could improve emergency response efforts. “In the future, patients will be able to access critical health information, such as blood type and emergency contacts, in urgent situations. This capability could save lives and enhance healthcare efficiency,” she explained.
President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dr. Pamela Ajayi highlighted the need for innovative solutions to address Nigeria’s healthcare challenges. She pointed out that accessibility, affordability and efficiency remain major hurdles in the system. Ajayi praised digitalisation as a means to overcome these issues, particularly for underserved populations in rural areas.
“Telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics could bridge the healthcare gap for rural communities lacking adequate services,” she noted. “By digitising healthcare, we can leapfrog obstacles that have persisted for years.” She also emphasised the importance of developing homegrown solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges, rather than relying on imported models from other countries.
Programme manager for the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (NDHI), Dr. Gbenga Ijaodola echoed the importance of digitalisation in achieving equitable healthcare access. “To achieve equity, availability, and accessibility of healthcare services cost-effectively, we must embrace digitalisation,” he stated.
Ijaodola highlighted the potential of digital tools to improve service delivery, reduce financial and physical barriers to care, and ultimately save lives. “Digital solutions will ensure accountability, efficiency and responsiveness in the health system,” he added.
He called for collaboration across the healthcare sector, urging stakeholders to unite in their efforts to achieve Nigeria’s UHC goals. The message was clear: government, private sector, and civil society must work together to leverage digital health solutions and public financing mechanisms to create a more efficient and equitable healthcare system for all Nigerians.
As Nigeria advances toward UHC, the emphasis on digital health and effective public financing stands out as a promising path to overcome the challenges in its healthcare delivery system. By integrating innovative solutions and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the country aims to ensure that all citizens have access to quality health services.
