The federal government and healthcare stakeholders have called for the nationwide expansion of telemedicine services to improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for people in rural and underserved communities. The stakeholders made the call on Tuesday at the Nigerian Telehealth Conference 2.0, organised by Mobihealth International in Abuja.
The conference, themed “The Future of Healthcare is Connected: Click and Brick,” brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, regulators, and private-sector representatives to discuss ways to move telemedicine beyond pilot projects to wider implementation. Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Salma Ibrahim-Anas, said integrating digital technology with existing healthcare facilities could help address barriers to accessing medical services.
Ms Ibrahim-Anas said the future of healthcare lies in integrating digital technology with professional expertise and physical health facilities to deliver connected, accessible, and affordable quality services for citizens nationwide. “It captures an essential truth: the future of healthcare lies in combining the reach and convenience of digital technology with human touch, professional expertise, and the physical infrastructure of health facilities,” she said.
She emphasised that President Bola Tinubu was pursuing an agenda focused on strengthening health systems, expanding access to essential services, improving healthcare financing, revitalising primary healthcare and advancing UHC nationwide. However, she identified unreliable electricity, poor internet connectivity, inadequate financing, and regulatory concerns as challenges that must be addressed before telemedicine can be implemented effectively nationwide.
She explained that telemedicine could support pregnant women, mothers, and patients in remote communities by connecting them with healthcare professionals, specialists, and referral services for timely, quality care nationwide. However, cautioned that telehealth must not be seen as a replacement for healthcare workers, diagnostics, essential medicines, and emergency services needed to deliver quality patient care effectively.