Nigeria’s Senate has advanced a bill aimed at creating a legal framework for electronic healthcare services, a move lawmakers say could help modernize the country’s healthcare system, improve access to medical care and increase efficiency in hospitals.
The bill, which passed second reading on Wednesday, seeks to establish rules for the development, coordination and integration of digital health services across Nigeria. It is sponsored by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who said the proposed legislation would provide the foundation for a technology-driven healthcare system.
Presenting the bill before the Senate, Barau said digital healthcare had become a key part of healthcare delivery globally and that Nigeria needed clear regulations to ensure technology could be effectively used to improve medical services.
He said the country’s healthcare sector continues to face challenges, including dependence on paper-based medical records, fragmented patient information systems and limited access to specialist care, especially for people in remote communities.
Barau said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of digital health solutions, as telemedicine and remote consultations helped patients receive medical support during emergencies. He stressed that Nigeria needed to keep pace with global healthcare innovations and develop systems that make quality healthcare more accessible.
The proposed legislation would provide guidelines for electronic medical records, telemedicine services and other digital healthcare platforms. Barau said it would also strengthen the protection of patients’ medical data, improve disease surveillance, reduce hospital waiting times through electronic appointment systems and encourage innovation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
He added that the bill aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, universal health coverage goals, the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
During the debate, Sen. Mohammed Monguno, representing Borno North, supported the bill, saying it would provide the legal backing needed for the expansion of electronic healthcare services nationwide. He noted that countries around the world had embraced technology in healthcare delivery and said Nigeria must align its systems with international standards.
Health experts have identified digital healthcare as a potential solution to some of the challenges facing healthcare systems in developing countries, including limited access to specialists, poor medical record management and pressure on major hospitals. However, they have also emphasized that successful implementation will require better digital infrastructure, reliable internet access, trained healthcare workers and strong data protection measures.
The Senate passed the bill for second reading through a voice vote after receiving support from lawmakers. Senate President Godswill Akpabio later referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further review, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.
If eventually passed into law, the legislation could become a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to expand digital healthcare services, improve patient care and strengthen the country’s position in Africa’s growing health technology sector.
