3 months ago
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The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mobihealth International, Dr Funmi Adewara, has advocated the adoption of telemedicine in the Nigerian health sector.
He noted that it could help address 60 per cent of the medical issues facing Nigerians.
The Mobihealth boss stated this during the recent two-day 2024 Africa Social Impact Summit held in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa’.
Co-convened by the Sterling One Foundation, and the United Nations Nigeria, the summit brought key players across sectors to share knowledge and draw up action plans towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and providing an opportunity for developing market-led solutions to Africa’s social challenges.
During a panel session, Adewara stressed the urgent need for a national adoption of telemedicine in Nigeria.
She stated that telemedicine offered a transformative solution to Nigeria’s healthcare system in the immediate and long term and could address 60 per cent of the medical issues facing the citizens.
She added that it connects patients in remote areas with medical professionals, providing timely consultations, diagnoses, and treatments without the need for travelling.
According to Adewara, other key benefits of telemedicine adoption in the country include increased access to health services, cost-effectiveness, improved health outcomes, enhanced data management, and education, among others.
She posited that increased access to health services would benefit individuals in rural and underserved communities more by using telemedicine mobile and/or walk-in clinics that have solar, internet, point-of-care testing, remote monitoring devices, and medicine dispensaries.
“Patients do not need digital skills to access telemedicine services,” she added.
Adewara further said that by reducing the need for physical travel and optimising resource allocation, telemedicine can significantly lower healthcare costs for patients and providers.
“With quicker access to medical expertise, patients can receive timely interventions, reduce the risk of complications, and improve overall health outcomes.
“Digital platforms facilitate better tracking and management of patient data, leading to more informed and effective healthcare decisions, adding that knowledge and skills can be facilitated through telehealth to address the skill gap and boost manpower,” she asserted.
Adewara also called on government agencies, healthcare providers, and private sector stakeholders to collaborate in driving robust telemedicine adoption, especially for primary healthcare.
She stated that the company had data from studies funded by the Gates Foundation and feasibility studies conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, among others, which showed that telemedicine could improve access to maternal and child health, reproductive health, health education, and reduce hospitalisation by 70 per cent, and is cost-effective as low as N100 per person monthly.
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