Health sector reforms: FG urges the parties interested in building a spine for digital health Nat’l
Abuja (basic reporter) The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Wellness has asked for a national movement to digitize the Nigeria health system, declaring digital transformation as the backbone of the reforms of the current health sector.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Wellness, dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call during his key speech during the national meeting of the interested parties of the Nigeria Digital Health Initiative (Ndhi) which was recently held in Abuja.
Speaking with a transversal section of state commissioners, digital health experts, private sector actors and development partners, dr. Salako described the Ndhi as a “decisive moment” in the journey of Nigeria towards an integrated health system, efficient and focused on people. The initiative, he said, is a fundamental component of the Agenda of renewed hope of the Tinubu Administration and the initiative for the renewal investments of the health sector.
“For too long, our health system has suffered from providing fragmented services and poor data infrastructures,” said the honorable minister. “The Ndhi offers us the opportunity to review the digital foundation of health care in Nigeria and guarantee data, technology and people are at the center of the decision -making process and the delivery of care.”
Launched in March 2024, the Ndhi is anchored to three key components:
An interoperable network for digital health services that includes open, modular and connected tools.
The exchange of complaints for health (HCX) to keep track of health funding, reduce fraud and allow purchase decisions based on real -time data.
The exchange of information on health (HIE) to allow unhealthy and safe data sharing between public and private structures at national level.
According to Dr. Salako, these components will form a space for unified national health data capable of feeding everything, from clinical decisions and the surveillance of outbreaks to innovation by startups and efficient resources planning.
The minister stressed that the full implementation of the ENHI will eliminate paper systems, will allow real -time monitoring of health indicators throughout the country and allow local innovators to develop digital solutions.
“This is not just a federal initiative: it is a national imperative,” said Salako. “It belongs to all of us: states, health workers, private sector and, ultimately, to the Nigerian people.”
He invited the interested parties to seize the three-day meeting as a launch for coordinated implementation, soliciting the buy-in at state level, clear roles for digital focal people and structured alignment on digital architecture, standard and data governance.
“The stakes are high,” he warned. “Every Commissioner for Health must see this as a critical healthcare activator to be delivered before May 2027. The future of fair, efficient and responsible health care depends on this.”
The Ndhi, approved by the National Council on Health in November 2024, should unify existing platforms such as Dhis2, Sormas, Nhia Systems, LMIS and electronic clinical folders in a national national digital health architecture.
While the meeting continues the DR, the participants should finalize the action plans for state implementation, develop technical paintings and map a realistic path towards the full digitization of the Nigeria health system.