By Muhammad Amaan
The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a new technology-driven health hub, Care365, aimed at making healthcare more accessible, affordable and equitable for Nigerians.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, unveiled the innovation, a private sector-led initiative, in Abuja on Tuesday under the theme “Enhancing Universal Health Coverage through Technology and Innovation.”
Pate described Care365 as a tool to drive Nigeria’s progress towards universal health coverage. He said the platform would ensure that citizens, regardless of location, can access quality healthcare services.
The founder and chief executive of Care365 Health Hub, Ngozi Odumoku, explained that the platform was developed to remove barriers to medical access.
“The reason for this vision is to make accessible health care, affordable health care, quality health care, and available health care available to the citizens of Nigeria,” he said.
He explained that its services include smart self-service kiosks, mobile clinics, telemedicine platforms and access to a global pool of specialist doctors.
These innovations will provide millions of Nigerians with instant access to health checks, consultations, e-prescriptions and referrals without the traditional obstacles of distance, cost or limited facilities,” Odumoku said.
According to him, the model is a “game-changing” development for Nigeria’s health sector as it strengthens primary healthcare, reduces pressure on overstretched hospitals, enhances early disease detection, and opens opportunities for collaboration with international experts, thereby giving Nigerians access to world-class medical expertise.
The launch drew attendance from high-profile figures including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, alongside heads of agencies under the Ministry of Health, and key private sector players.
Speaking at the event, President Obasanjo commended the initiative as timely and visionary. “It speaks directly to the heart of one of our most critical national challenges, access to quality and affordable health care for all Nigerians. Health for all,” he said.
“Health care was never meant to be a luxury for the privileged or the urban elite. Millions of Nigerians still walk miles to reach a health post. Still, many die from preventable situations and conditions. And still more live in places where the nearest doctor is hours, and on bad roads, away,” he added.
The former president urged all stakeholders to support Care365. “To the federal government, I urge you to fully integrate Care365 into our primary health care and emergency system. To state governments, adopt and domesticate it.
“To donors and development partners, support it. To the private sector, invest in it, particularly the banks,” Obasanjo said.
