Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating digital transformation in Nigeria’s health sector through effective coordination, standardisation and integration of health technology and data systems. This was contained in a statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this at the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, held at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Headquarters, Abuja.
Dr. Salako who spoke on behalf of the Co-chairmen of the steering committee, said the establishment of the Office, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would provide an important coordination mechanism for accelerating Nigeria’s digital health transformation, stressing that it would complement rather than replace the responsibilities of existing departments, agencies, programmes and initiatives within the health sector.
According to him, the Office would promote greater collaboration and synergy among stakeholders while providing coordination for the implementation of Nigeria’s approved digital health architecture. He noted that the architecture, already approved by the National Council on Health, would serve as a foundation for moving digital health from policy and documentation to practical implementation and measurable impact across the health system.
The Minister emphasised that digital health remains an important enabler of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), noting that deeper penetration of digital technologies across the health system was essential to achieving the objectives of the ongoing health sector reforms.
Dr. Salako further identified the need to address fragmentation among electronic medical record systems currently deployed in health facilities, noting that some existing systems were not interconnected or adequately standardised. He stressed the importance of establishing and enforcing minimum standards to ensure that digital solutions adopted by health facilities meet nationally agreed requirements.
He therefore called on members of the Steering Committee and other stakeholders, including the private sector, to work collaboratively with the Office to achieve its mandate and strengthen Nigeria’s digital health ecosystem.
The Minister expressed confidence that effective coordination of health technology and data systems would support the development of smarter health facilities, improve interoperability and ultimately contribute to more efficient and responsive healthcare delivery for Nigerians.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said the effective deployment of data analytics should go beyond the production of routine reports to enabling government to anticipate health challenges, identify inequalities, allocate resources more intelligently, measure performance and improve health outcomes.
She therefore called for an inclusive digital transformation that would reduce rather than deepen existing inequalities, particularly between urban and rural communities and other underserved populations.
The Permanent Secretary assured the Steering Committee of the Ministry’s commitment to providing the administrative and policy environment required for the Office to succeed, while encouraging collaboration among relevant departments, agencies and programmes within the health sector.
She urged members of the Committee to ensure clarity of roles, efficient utilisation of resources and avoidance of unnecessary duplication, noting that the ultimate objective was to create a health information and technology ecosystem that works seamlessly across institutional boundaries.
She emphasised that their mandate extended beyond the development of digital platforms and deployment of technologies, but was fundamentally about contributing to the establishment of a modern, resilient and people-centred health system capable of responding effectively to current and emerging health challenges in Nigeria.
Kachollom identified interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, ethical use of artificial intelligence, data governance and patient confidentiality as critical areas requiring attention, stressing that increased digitalisation must be accompanied by measures that strengthen public confidence in the security and responsible use of health information.
The Permanent Secretary, congratulated members of the Steering Committee on their appointment and urged them to approach the assignment with a strong sense of purpose, collaboration and national responsibility.
Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf while inaugurating the Steering Committee on behalf of the Co-chairmen, expressed hope that the Office will set up guidelines that will promote interoperability, adoption, scaling, and also promote private investment into our health sector.
He added that private sector, for years has demonstrated its willingness to partner with government, assuring his organization’s commitment and readiness to gulvanize the Nigeria Private sector to cooperate, support, and participate in the implementation of this national initiative.
Members the steering committee inaugurated include: the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S. mni, Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. John Ovuoreye, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Honourable Commission of Health, Ekiti State, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, DG, National Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Muntaqa Umar- Sadiq, National Coordinator, SWAp Office.
Others are: Dr. Ekem Emmanuel James, Honourable Commissioner of Health,,olq Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Haruna Buhari, Dr. Abdul Mukhtar National Coordinator PVAC, Dr. Mohammad Lawal Gana, Honourable Commissioner of Health, Yobe State, while the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, and Olaniyi Yusuf are the Co- Chairs of the committee.
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