FG and stakeholders call for telemedicine expansion

Federal government and healthcare stakeholders have called for nationwide expansion of telemedicine services to improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for rural and underserved communities.

Nigerian Telehealth Conference 2.0

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 moving telemedicine beyond pilot projects.

Salma Ibrahim-Anas on health strategy

Special Adviser to the President on Health, Salma Ibrahim-Anas, emphasized President Bola Tinubu's agenda focused on strengthening health systems, expanding access to essential services, improving healthcare financing, and advancing universal health coverage nationwide.

Telemedicine integration benefits

Integrating digital technology with existing healthcare facilities could help address barriers to accessing medical services for pregnant women, mothers, and patients in remote communities.

Challenges to nationwide implementation

Unreliable electricity, poor internet connectivity, inadequate financing, and regulatory concerns must be addressed before telemedicine can be implemented effectively nationwide.

Telehealth not a replacement

Telehealth is not a replacement for healthcare workers, diagnostics, essential medicines, and emergency services needed to deliver quality patient care effectively.

“Telehealth is not simply about deployment; it is not a replacement for our competent health workers.”

Mobihealth International's role

Mobihealth International's Founder and CEO, Funmi Adewara, described validating Nigeria's first national telemedicine guideline as an important milestone toward improving access to remote healthcare services.

Partnerships for sustainable telemedicine

Partnerships with government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority, are important to integrate telemedicine into the health system and reduce financial barriers for citizens.

FCT Health Services perspective

Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, said Nigeria needs a framework to guide digital health practice while ensuring accountability and accessibility for citizens.

Medical Council of Nigeria on regulation

Fatima Kyari, Registrar and CEO of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, said regulation remains critical to ensuring patient safety and maintaining professional standards in telemedicine practice.

Health Commissioners Forum stance

Oyebanji Filani, Chairperson of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum and Ekiti Commissioner for Health, said telemedicine must not weaken accountability and professional standards nationwide.

“Telemedicine is not medicine without accountability. It is proper medicine delivered through another channel.”

Measuring success of telemedicine

Stakeholders urged measuring the success of digital health initiatives by impact on people's lives rather than the number of platforms created, emphasizing outcomes, equity, and accessibility for citizens.

Key challenges for implementation

Nigeria needs a framework to guide digital health practice while ensuring accountability and accessibility for citizens seeking quality, affordable healthcare services through telemedicine platforms nationwide.

What happens next

The federal government and healthcare stakeholders will work together to address practical foundations: reliable electricity, connectivity, sustainable financing, regulation, interoperability of health systems, data privacy, and cybersecurity for nationwide telemedicine implementation.