By Iyemah David
The Federal Government of Nigeria said it is ready with the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) across the 1,691 health facilities nationwide.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the National Stakeholders Roundtable on Digital Health.
He said that the move was part of government’s deliberate effort to digitise the country’s healthcare sector.
According to him, the initiative is expected to unlock billions in savings and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Dr Alausa, who was represented by Dr Leke Ojewale, his Senior Technical Adviser on Digital Health, shared Nigeria’s vision to transform its healthcare delivery through digitisation.
He said that the National Digital Health Infrastructure (NDHI) project aimed to create a unified, inter-operable health information system that improves data sharing, patient care, and healthcare efficiency across the nation.
“The current state of Nigeria’s health system presents an opportunity for digital transformation.
“The country stands to gain significant economic and public health benefits through digitisation.
“We could achieve 10 per cent to 15 per cent efficiency gains in healthcare, which will translate to about 3.3 billion dollars in savings by 2030,” he said.
He said the NDHI had made significant strides in laying the groundwork for this transformation.
According to him, 1,691 health facilities, comprising primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, will adopt EHRs, enabling healthcare providers to access patient data seamlessly across the system.
“Governance structures and a data architecture blueprint have been established, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for core digital health solutions were recently launched,” he said.
The minister underlined the positive outcomes seen in other countries that have embraced digital health solutions.
“For instance, Rwanda, where 80 per cent of the population live in rural areas, has provided 30 per cent of its citizens with remote access to healthcare via digital apps.
“Similarly, Tanzania saw a 2.1 per cent reduction in monthly stockouts of essential medications in facilities using electronic immunisation registration systems.
“Other global examples include the UK, where digital health tools have resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in demand for general practitioner services.
“In Ghana, a medicine barcode system has reduced counterfeit medications by 30 per cent.
“These international examples show how digital health can lead to better outcomes, including improved access, reduced errors, and enhanced efficiency,” the minister said.
He said that the digitisation drive could generate economic benefits for Nigeria.
“The digital health market is projected to grow by six per cent to eight per cent annually, reaching 500 million dollars by 2029.
“Additionally, digital health could create 250,000 direct and indirect jobs across Africa by 2030, with Nigeria poised to play a leading role in this ecosystem.
“Nigerian digital health start-ups have already demonstrated their export potential, with one raising 10 million dollars and serving 1,000 facilities across ten countries,” he said.
Dr Alausa said that in 2025, NDHI would focus on deploying EHRs in facilities, and would develop an inter-operable framework to ensure seamless data exchange between systems.
“Plans are also underway to strengthen data security, governance, and standardisation to support a resilient health ecosystem.
“Nigeria aims to scale up its digital health infrastructure, expand the number of facilities using EHRs, and integrate private sector initiatives.
“The long-term goal is to create a sustainable system that leverages cutting-edge technology, such as personalised wellness apps, genomics, and intelligent disease outbreak management,” he said.
He said that Nigeria was on the cusp of a digital health revolution.
“With the right investments, partnerships and commitment, we can build a system that improves health outcomes, drives economic growth, and positions us as a leader in digital health across Africa,” he said.
