The Nigerian government says the country will need about ₦500 billion over the next five years to develop the digital infrastructure required to modernise healthcare delivery and strengthen universal health coverage.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Thursday at the Africa Digital Health Summit in Abuja.
He said, “Our plan is costly, requiring an estimated investment of about ₦500 billion in capital and operational costs over the next five years”, adding that the funds would support the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture.
The framework is designed to integrate health information systems across the country and improve coordination in healthcare delivery. Salako urged pension fund managers to consider investing in digital health infrastructure, noting that it would improve healthcare delivery while generating sustainable returns.
He said Nigeria is shifting from fragmented digital health pilots to a unified national system under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
According to him, the National Digital Health Architecture has been endorsed by all 36 states and the FCT, with increasing adoption of electronic medical records and other digital health tools in federal facilities. He, however, identified challenges including poor electricity supply, limited internet access in rural areas, and fragmented donor-supported systems.
Salako said, “Sustained political will and domestic financing will be critical to achieving full digital transformation in the health sector”.
