From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate during the week, passed for second reading, a bill seeking to establish a comprehensive legal framework for electronic health services in Nigeria, with a focus on digitising hospitals and expanding access in rural and underserved areas.
The legislation, which was titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for a Comprehensive Legal and Regulatory Framework for the Development, Coordination and Integration of Electronic Health Services in Nigeria and for Related Matters, 2026 (SB. 758),” was sponsored by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, (APC, Kano North).
Leading the debate, Senator Jibrin said, the proposed law seek to regulate, coordinate and integrate digital health services nationwide. Noting that, tools such as electronic medical records, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, mobile health apps, e-prescriptions and wearable devices have become central to modern healthcare delivery worldwide.
According to him, Nigeria must not be left behind in the global shift to digital healthcare, saying the country’s health system is still weighed down by paper-based records, loss of patient information, duplication of tests, treatment delays and poor data sharing among health facilities.
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Barau, added that millions of Nigerians in rural communities are still struggling to access specialist care due to shortage of health workers and geographical barriers.
This, he said, will address digital appointment systems and electronic patient management designed to reduce waiting time in hospitals.
The Deputy Senate President also said, the legislation will strengthen disease surveillance and public health emergency response by enabling timely collection and analysis of health data. He therefore, referenced the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of how digital tools help maintain healthcare services during the crises.
Beyond service delivery, Barau said the bill is also expected to drive innovation, create jobs and support the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, adding that it would equally set clear standards for interoperability and governance for both public and private healthcare providers operating digital platforms.
He however, lamented that despite the increasing adoption of digital health solutions by hospitals and private providers, Nigeria currently lacks a comprehensive law to regulate e-health.
This gap, he added, has led to fragmented implementation, inconsistent standards and uncertainty over legal responsibilities.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), directing the committee to report back within four weeks for further legislative consideration.
