Senate moves to integrate e-health services in Nigeria hospitals

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Senate

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The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the development, coordination and integration of electronic health services in Nigeria.

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Leading the debate, the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Jibrin Barau, said the proposed bill would provide the legal foundation for a modern, technology-driven healthcare system capable of improving access, efficiency, and quality of medical services in Nigerian hospitals.

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Barau, the deputy senate president, said the bill sought to establish a comprehensive framework for electronic health services, stressing that digital healthcare had become indispensable globally for improving service delivery.

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According to him, despite investments in the health sector, Nigeria’s healthcare system still faces challenges, including paper-based medical records, fragmented patient information, and limited access to specialist care.

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“Nigeria cannot afford to remain on the margins of the global digital health transformation.

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“This bill provides the legal framework needed to modernise healthcare delivery in our hospitals,” he said.

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The deputy senate president said that the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of telemedicine, remote consultations and electronic health information systems in ensuring continuity of healthcare services during emergencies.

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He noted that the absence of comprehensive legislation had led to fragmented implementation, inconsistent standards, and uncertainty about legal responsibilities in digital healthcare delivery.

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“Through telemedicine, patients in remote communities will consult qualified healthcare professionals without travelling long distances.

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” It will improve access to quality healthcare and reduce pressure on tertiary hospitals,” he added.

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Barau added that the bill would strengthen data protection, improve disease surveillance, reduce waiting time through electronic appointment systems and stimulate innovation in Nigeria’s digital economy.

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He emphasised that the legislation aligned with the federal government’s digital transformation agenda, universal health coverage objectives, the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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In his contribution, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North) said the bill would provide the legal backing required to deploy electronic healthcare services across the country.

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“The whole world has embraced technology in healthcare delivery. This bill will safeguard medical records and align Nigeria’s electronic healthcare services with international best practices,” Monguno said.

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Also contributing, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia North) described the bill as timely, saying digital healthcare would expand access to medical services and reduce the burden of distance on patients.

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“Medical services are expensive and difficult to access in many communities. With this digital approach, we will reach more Nigerians and improve healthcare delivery,” Kalu said.

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On his part, Sen. Tony Nwoye (NDC-Anambra North) also supported the bill, saying it would improve access to healthcare, especially in rural communities where specialist medical services remain inadequate.

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“The bill will reduce pressure on tertiary hospitals, improve access to telemedicine and ensure patients can easily retrieve their medical records,” Nwoye said.

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Following overwhelming support, the Senate passed the bill to second reading by voice vote.

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The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health, Secondary and Tertiary with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

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