By: Manoah Kikekon
 |
| Iziaq Salako [Credit: People Gazette] |
The Federal Government has announced a major digital overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to enhance service delivery nationwide.
Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, revealed this at the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (NDHI) stakeholders' meeting in Abuja, calling it a "decisive moment" for the country’s health sector.
Launched in March 2024, the NDHI seeks to unify Nigeria’s digital health ecosystem by establishing an open, interoperable network. This reform will replace outdated, fragmented systems with a seamless digital infrastructure to improve disease tracking, immunisation coverage, and healthcare financing while fostering innovation in health tech.
Real-time disease monitoring, Faster response to outbreaks. Better healthcare access, Streamlined services for patients. Boost for health tech startups, Opportunities for app developers and job creation.
Salako emphasized that digital tools are essential, not optional, for healthcare workers and policymakers. With 60% of services provided by the private sector, integrating them into national reporting systems is crucial.
National Health Data Space – Supports clinical decisions and public health strategies. Interoperable Systems – Ensures seamless data sharing across platforms. Public-Private Collaboration – Encourages stakeholder involvement for nationwide impact.
The initiative, approved by the National Council on Health in November 2024, moves Nigeria from small-scale pilots to a full system transformation. Salako urged state health commissioners and digital health leaders to act swiftly, stressing that success depends on coordinated efforts.
"This is not just a federal project it’s a national mission," he said. "Let’s turn vision into action and build a smarter, stronger, and fairer healthcare system for all Nigerians."
With this bold step, Nigeria is set to revolutionize healthcare delivery, leveraging technology to save lives and boost efficiency.
(NAN)