Dr. Funmi Adewara, founder and CEO of Mobihealth International, has championed the widespread adoption of telemedicine within Nigeria’s healthcare system, suggesting it could address up to 60% of the country’s medical issues.
Speaking at the recent 2024 Africa Social Impact Summit in Lagos, themed ‘Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa,’ Adewara emphasized telemedicine’s transformative potential for Nigeria’s healthcare sector. The summit, co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations Nigeria, gathered key stakeholders to discuss sustainable development and innovative solutions for Africa’s social challenges.
During a panel discussion, Adewara highlighted the urgent need for Nigeria to embrace telemedicine as a solution to both immediate and long-term healthcare needs. She explained that telemedicine can bridge the gap between patients in remote areas and medical professionals, offering timely consultations, diagnoses, and treatments without requiring travel.
“Telemedicine presents a significant opportunity to enhance healthcare access, improve health outcomes, and manage costs effectively,” Adewara noted. She also pointed out that telemedicine could significantly benefit rural and underserved communities through mobile clinics equipped with solar power, internet connectivity, point-of-care testing, remote monitoring devices, and medicine dispensaries.
One of the advantages of telemedicine, Adewara added, is that patients do not need advanced digital skills to access these services. The technology reduces the need for physical travel, which can lower healthcare costs for both patients and providers, and improve overall health outcomes by providing quicker access to medical expertise.
Furthermore, Adewara underscored the role of digital platforms in better tracking and managing patient data, which leads to more informed healthcare decisions. She also highlighted how telemedicine can address skill gaps and enhance healthcare manpower through telehealth training.
Calling for collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, and private sector stakeholders, Adewara stressed the importance of driving robust telemedicine adoption, particularly in primary healthcare.
Data from studies funded by the Gates Foundation and feasibility studies by the Boston Consulting Group indicate that telemedicine could improve maternal and child health, reproductive health, and health education, while reducing hospitalizations by up to 70%. The cost of telemedicine services can be as low as N100 per person monthly, making it a cost-effective solution for improving healthcare access across Nigeria.
