By Haruna Salami
The Senate on Wednesday took a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by passing for second reading a bill seeking to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the development, coordination and integration of electronic health services across the country.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, was read for the second time after lawmakers considered its general principles.
Leading the debate, Senator Barau said the proposed legislation seeks to provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the development, coordination and integration of electronic health services in Nigeria, as well as other related matters.
He noted that countries around the world are increasingly deploying electronic medical records, telemedicine platforms, artificial intelligence, mobile health applications, electronic prescriptions, wearable health technologies and integrated health information systems to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery.
According to him, Nigeria must embrace the global shift towards digital healthcare.
“Nigeria cannot afford to remain on the margins of this global transformation. Despite significant investments in healthcare infrastructure and reforms over the years, our healthcare delivery system continues to face enormous challenges,” he said.
Barau lamented that medical records in many Nigerian healthcare facilities remain largely paper-based, leading to loss of patient information, duplication of diagnostic tests, delayed treatment and avoidable medical errors.
He recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that digital health technologies are no longer optional but essential to building resilient healthcare systems.
According to him, telemedicine, remote consultations and electronic health information systems became indispensable during the pandemic by ensuring continuity of healthcare services while reducing unnecessary physical contact.
He, however, expressed concern that despite the growing adoption of digital health solutions by hospitals, private healthcare providers and technology companies, Nigeria still lacks a comprehensive legal framework to regulate electronic healthcare services.
Barau said the absence of clear legislation has resulted in fragmented implementation, inconsistent standards, inadequate interoperability, weak governance structures and uncertainty over the legal responsibilities of healthcare providers operating digital platforms.
He added that the bill is in line with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, the National Digital Health Strategic Framework, the National Health Act, Universal Health Coverage objectives, the Nigeria Data Protection Act and Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being and Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
Following contributions by senators during the debate, the Senate passed the bill for second reading and referred it to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative action.
The committee was directed to consider the bill and report back to the Senate within four weeks.
