Senator Harry Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, has emphasized the pivotal role of eHealth devices and digital health solutions in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system. The Senator pointed out that healthcare is a complex endeavor that necessitates legislators working together to create laws, implement policies, and effectively oversee funding. Representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Banigo made these statements at the Annual Legislative Summit on Health in Abuja, themed “Improving Legislative Stewardship and Accountability for Universal Health Coverage.”
She said these devices can effectively aid the country’s, particularly in view of its sizable population and dearth of medical specialists. Banigo stated in a statement that the nation can create platforms for health Education and interventions that can be accessed with a smartphone, even in isolated communities. According to her, this will have an immediate effect on local communities, especially on programs for the impoverished that assist disadvantaged groups. In order to improve health outcomes, Banigo also urged lawmakers to share information, participate in peer reviews, and share knowledge.
Inadequate infrastructure continues to be a major obstacle.
Banigo pointed out the ongoing Cholera outbreak which is severely affecting Nigerians, saying that it could have been prevented by providing basic health education and interventions through mobile phones. However, inadequate Infrastructure continues to be a major obstacle, especially in rural areas with erratic power supplies and internet connectivity. The urge to enhance health care performance and access in a nation plagued by a lack of financing, subpar infrastructure, and a scarcity of medical professionals has recently led to notable improvements in the advancement of eHealth devices and technologies in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has supported developments in this field by organizing programs such as the Nigerian Healthcare Innovation and Investment Conference. Plans to incorporate ICT into the system are laid out in the National Health ICT Strategic Framework, which was just launched. It involves efforts to establish electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and mobile health applications to enhance healthcare delivery. This support has played a pivotal role in cultivating a more favourable atmosphere for start-ups in the sector. A digital transformation project was also initiated through the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Digitalisation in order to improve service delivery.
Collaboration with WHO, UNICEF aims to support eHealth projects.
Furthermore, the government has set up centres for digital health innovation to encourage the creation and application of health technology, it has set up centres for digital health innovation. It has also collaborated with firms like Helium Health in an endeavour to roll out EHR systems in public healthcare facilities. The Federal Ministry of Health has been advocating for the implementation of an Integrated Medical Records System in coordination with other partners. On a global level, collaboration with global institutions including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are aimed to support the implementation of eHealth projects.
Also, eHealth Africa has been working with the Nigerian government on a number of projects to improve the use of Technology in the delivery of health services. Among these projects include the creation of digital tools for managing health information, tracking vaccinations, and monitoring disease outbreaks. Nigeria’s ecosystem for health technology is expanding, with several start-ups focussing on cutting-edge approaches like telemedicine platforms, mobile health apps, and remote monitoring equipment that are intended to increase care quality and accessibility. According to reports, Nigeria is home to more than 75 active health tech start-ups across a variety of subsectors.
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A number of businesses in the field are providing services ranging from genomics for improved disease detection and treatment (54Gene) to real-time blood bank connectivity (LifeBank). In addition to tackling pressing healthcare issues, these firms are boosting the Economy by generating employment. These advancements and the increasing participation of both the public and private sectors point to an optimistic future for eHealth in Nigeria, one that has the ability to completely revolutionize the country’s healthcare system by improving accessibility, effectiveness, and efficiency.