ABUJA – The Federal Government has declared digital health transformation an urgent national priority, announcing a comprehensive plan to integrate health records and data systems across all levels of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the declaration on Tuesday while addressing health information professionals at the 44th Scientific Conference of the Association of Health Records and Information Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AHRIMPN).
“No health system can be optimally impactful without reliable information and efficient data management for evidence-based decision-making,” Salako stated. “Digital health is now an emergency priority for Nigeria’s health sector renewal.”
The Minister revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has positioned digital innovation as a central pillar of its healthcare transformation agenda, with immediate focus on electronic health records, national data harmonization, and establishing a national health information exchange.
Five-Point Digital Reform Agenda
Salako outlined a collaborative five-point strategic reform plan with AHRIMPN:
1. Complete digitization and integration of health records across primary to tertiary care facilities
2. Standardization of health data systems to ensure interoperability and quality assurance
3. Capacity building in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and health informatics
4. Policy support for career progression and professional recognition of health information managers
5. Research collaboration to strengthen national health statistics and innovation
“Digital transformation is not about replacing human expertise; it is about amplifying it,” the Minister emphasized, noting that the initiative aims to equip every health worker from remote primary centers to advanced hospitals with digital tools.
Salako challenged health information professionals to embrace emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Medical Things, urging them to “acquire knowledge in innovative technologies transforming healthcare.”
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting AHRIMPN and the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria in strengthening professional standards, improving welfare, and promoting ethical data security practices.
“Together, let us harness innovation and technology to secure a healthier, more resilient future for our people,” Salako concluded, signaling the administration’s determination to bridge Nigeria’s digital health gap.
