The Federal Government says Nigeria will need about ₦500 billion over the next five years to expand its digital health infrastructure and improve healthcare delivery. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, announced this at the opening of the 6th Africa Digital Health Summit in Abuja.
Salako said the funding would support the National Digital Health Architecture, designed to integrate health information systems nationwide. He urged the National Pension Commission and Pension Fund Administrators to invest in digital health infrastructure, saying it would improve healthcare services while delivering sustainable returns.
The minister said electronic medical records have been adopted by an average of 74.5 per cent of Nigeria’s 79 federal tertiary hospitals. He added that the government is expanding digital systems for immunisation, vaccine supply and health workforce management, but said poor electricity, limited internet access, shortages of skilled personnel and dependence on donor funding remain major challenges.
Salako called on state governments, development partners and private sector organisations to align their investments with the National Digital Health Architecture. He said states implementing the framework would qualify for incentives under the Federal Government’s HOPE Primary Healthcare Programme, aimed at supporting universal health coverage.
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