Nigeria’s Healthcare Requires AI-Driven Telemedicine for Efficiency, Prof. Ekwueme Advocates

Nigeria’s Healthcare Requires AI-Driven Telemedicine for Efficiency, Prof. Ekwueme Advocates

The Nigerian government has been urged to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered telemedicine solutions to enhance healthcare delivery across the country…….READ MORE

Prof. Chuks Ekwueme, Chairman of Uniccon, made this call on Thursday while addressing journalists in Abuja. He emphasized that integrating AI-driven telemedicine into the healthcare system would significantly transform medical services and improve accessibility for Nigeria’s over 200 million citizens.

Ekwueme underscored the need for expanding healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, where medical facilities are often scarce or underfunded. He highlighted that AI-powered telemedicine would simplify healthcare processes, making it more convenient and affordable while ensuring patients receive quality medical advice regardless of their location or financial capacity.

According to him, such a system would provide users with a comprehensive healthcare application capable of facilitating virtual consultations, analyzing symptoms, and bridging the gap in medical service delivery across Africa.

“The implementation of AI in healthcare will lower costs, address manpower shortages, enhance efficiency, extend medical reach, and alleviate pressure on government-owned healthcare facilities,” Ekwueme explained.

He further suggested that public hospitals should collaborate with telemedicine providers to integrate AI-driven solutions into their hospital management systems. Given Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio, which falls below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, AI technology could significantly reduce consultation times and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Ekwueme noted that while telemedicine does not replace physical consultations—particularly in emergency cases—it remains one of the fastest, most affordable, and most effective ways to deliver essential healthcare services, especially in underserved regions.