FG, stakeholders seek nationwide expansion of telemedicine services

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.

“As we work towards nationwide implementation of telemedicine, we must address practical foundations: reliable electricity, connectivity, sustainable financing, regulation, interoperability of health systems, data privacy, and cybersecurity,” she said.

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.

“Telehealth is not simply about deployment; it is not a replacement for our competent health workers,” she said, emphasising that human expertise remained central to quality healthcare delivery.

She emphasised that while technology matters, healthcare delivery must retain compassion, empathy, and professional judgment to ensure patient-centred, quality services across Nigeria for all citizens.

“As health professionals, we have to have that human touch to it,” she said, urging compassion, empathy and professionalism in delivering connected digital health services nationwide for citizens.

She also called for inclusive digital health services that would benefit rural communities, women, persons with disabilities, elderly people and Nigerians with limited digital literacy nationwide.

She urged stakeholders to measure the success of digital health initiatives by impact on people’s lives rather than the number of platforms created, emphasising outcomes, equity and accessibility for citizens.

Moving beyond pilot projects

Earlier, Mobihealth International’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Funmi Adewara, said Nigeria had reached a critical stage in developing the policies and regulatory frameworks needed to expand telemedicine services.

Mrs Adewara described validating the country’s first national telemedicine guideline as an important milestone toward improving access to remote healthcare services.

“Technology can help us to collapse the distance between a doctor and a patient, regardless of their geography,” she said, highlighting the potential of digital health to expand equitable access nationwide.

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

Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, said involving regulators, lawmakers, officials, and private sector players was essential to developing a sustainable telemedicine system.

Ms Fasawe said 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.

“We do not have enough healthcare professionals. However, when we are talking to patients through telemedicine, healthcare is more accessible, more affordable, and we cut out travel time,” she said.

She added that the government could not achieve digital health transformation alone, emphasising the need for partnerships and stakeholder collaboration to drive sustainable innovation, equity, and access nationwide.

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

Ms Kyari said the council was committed to developing a system that keeps healthcare professionals accountable while technology improves service delivery and expands access to quality healthcare.

“Let us ensure that the future of telemedicine is not merely technological advancement, but professionally responsible and ethically grounded,” she said, calling for accountability, safety and professional integrity nationwide.

Oyebanji Filani, Chairperson of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum and Ekiti Commissioner for Health, said technology could transform healthcare delivery but must not weaken accountability and professional standards nationwide.

“Telemedicine is not medicine without accountability. It is proper medicine delivered through another channel,” Filani said, emphasising responsible practice, regulation and patient safety in digital health delivery nationwide.

(NAN)