International journalist Eden Harris has said artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly improve emergency healthcare delivery in Nigeria by helping doctors respond faster in critical situations where time determines survival.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Sunday, Harris explained that Nigeria’s healthcare system is under intense pressure, particularly in emergency care, due to staff shortages, heavy workloads, and inefficient documentation processes.
According to her, these challenges often delay urgent medical decisions and put patients at risk.
Harris said AI could serve as a vital support system for doctors and nurses by assisting with medical documentation and patient record management. “It will help doctors move back when timing is critical,” she said, noting that AI-powered tools can analyse patient data quickly and reduce the time spent on paperwork.
She explained that AI is already being deployed in parts of Africa, such as Ghana, where it is used to help nurses log notes and manage patient records more efficiently. Harris noted that this allows healthcare workers to focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
Highlighting Nigeria’s population size, Harris said doctors are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of patients they attend to daily. “Naturally, doctors will be overwhelmed, and naturally doctors will take longer than a population that has lesser people to assist,” she said.
Harris added that these delays are not always caused by negligence but by systemic overload within the healthcare system. She stressed that when emergency rooms are crowded and documentation is manual, critical response time is affected.
She further explained that AI-driven tools could help hospitals manage patient queues more efficiently, especially in emergency cases. By assisting with charting and documentation, Harris said medical professionals would be able to prioritise urgent cases better and reduce avoidable waiting times.
Harris also addressed concerns around medication safety, noting that dosage decisions are often based on medical trials conducted outside Africa. She said this poses risks when applied directly to African populations without adjustment.
According to Harris, AI can help reduce such medical errors by analysing patient-specific data and supporting doctors with more accurate treatment recommendations tailored to local populations.
She concluded that while AI is not a replacement for doctors, it can play a critical role in strengthening Nigeria’s emergency care system by reducing delays, supporting overwhelmed healthcare workers, and improving patient outcomes.
Triumph Ojo
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