Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector have commended the recent move by the Federal Government to digitalise the country’s healthcare system through the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (NDHI).
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, reiterated the FG’s commitment to the initiative during a national stakeholders’ meeting of the NDHI, held in Abuja on 2 June 2025.
Launched in March 2024, the NDHI marks a pivotal point in Nigeria’s healthcare reform journey, with Salako describing it as a “decisive moment” for the country, one in which data and technology are to form the foundation of improved and sustainable healthcare delivery
Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure has long grappled with disjointed digital systems, lacking interoperability. This fragmentation has created inefficiencies in disease surveillance, financial accountability, and service provision. In many rural areas, health records are still largely paper-based, leaving them vulnerable to damage, loss, and inaccuracy.
The minister emphasised that the initiative is designed to overhaul these outdated systems by establishing a unified digital infrastructure that supports real-time data collection, efficient resource allocation, and quicker emergency response. “We are at an inflection point,” he said, indicating a shift from fragmented reforms to a cohesive, national transformation.
Beyond its technical components, the initiative has broader implications. One of the most impactful is the capacity to track disease outbreaks in real time, a critical need in a country prone to epidemics such as cholera, Lassa fever, and COVID-19. Improved data systems will also allow for better immunisation coverage in underserved communities and more accurate distribution of resources.
Salako noted that the initiative will also create new opportunities for Nigeria’s tech sector by empowering local developers and innovators to build health-related applications. This, in turn, could boost job creation and support the growth of the digital economy. Furthermore, the initiative recognises the central role of the private sector, which provides 60 per cent of healthcare services in Nigeria, and calls for its full integration into national digital reporting systems.
The minister offered a striking example: “A woman delivering in a rural community in Yobe will have her medical records linked to referral centres across the country without needing paper folders.” This vision reflects a shift towards inclusive, patient-centred care that overcomes geographic and socio-economic barriers.
With the endorsement of the National Council on Health, the initiative is being pursued as a national, rather than merely federal, effort. Salako called on state health commissioners and digital health focal points to commit to practical timelines and collaborative implementation. “Let this meeting be remembered not just as a gathering, but as the launchpad for building a smarter, stronger, and more equitable health system for all Nigerians,” he concluded.
In a telephone interview with Pharmanews, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Mrs Njide Ndili, stated that the programme would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to tackle infectious diseases. She said the Ministry’s digital transformation efforts—particularly through the NDHI—have played a vital role in improving data integration and enabling real-time disease surveillance, which in turn strengthens outbreak response.
Ndili added that Nigeria is decidedly improving its capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats by integrating digital tools throughout the healthcare continuum—from vaccination to financing and genomic research. She emphasised that the focus on interoperability, data integration, and sustainable governance provides a solid framework for a more responsive public health system.
On the matter of sustainability, Professor Chimezie Anyakora, CEO of Bloom Public Health, expressed confidence in the government’s ability to finance the initiative.
“I don’t think finance will be a problem,” he said. “It’s about priority. The Coordinating Minister of Health is a knowledgeable individual who understands that digital transformation is a top priority and key to accelerating healthcare delivery. He will find the money. In fact, it will be much cheaper in the long run.”
Anyakora also highlighted that the digital transformation could hasten Nigeria’s progress towards achieving universal health coverage. According to him, effective allocation of resources is only possible with accurate data on needs and impact. In the past, he noted, waste and duplication were common, but with a comprehensive digital plan, resources will be better directed, and donor contributions more strategically channelled.
Dr Pamela Ajayi, public health expert and immediate past president of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), corroborated these sentiments, stating that the NDHI is reshaping Nigeria’s long-standing healthcare challenges. She explained that the country had long been hindered by disconnected data systems and slow reporting, which had limited its ability to manage disease threats effectively.
Ajayi commended the FG for prioritising this initiative and acknowledged the current administration’s unprecedented commitment to achieving universal health coverage. She highlighted the implementation of the 2022 NHIA Act—which mandates health insurance coverage across both formal and informal sectors—as a key step forward.
The public health expert also noted increased collaboration between federal and state governments aimed at inclusive financing and the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres nationwide. She further praised the government’s efforts to foster public–private integration, especially through engagement with the HFN and similar groups.
Ajayi added that the NDHI would enable private healthcare providers to become part of the national digital ecosystem, thereby improving the reach and efficiency of service delivery—both essential elements of universal health coverage.
The NDHI is structured around three foundational pillars. The first is the Interoperable Digital Health Services Network, consisting of modular, open-source tools that can be adapted across different states and healthcare facilities, ensuring seamless communication between systems—from primary clinics to tertiary hospitals. The second is the Health Claims Exchange, which digitises claims processing in real time to reduce fraud and improve financial accountability among both public and private providers. The third is the Health Information Exchange, which enables secure and continuous sharing of patient data across healthcare institutions nationwide. With this system, a patient’s medical history becomes portable, ensuring continuity of care no matter where treatment is received.
Together, these components are designed to create a robust national health data infrastructure that will support better clinical decisions, more efficient public health responses, and stronger innovation in healthcare financing and technology.
