Abuja: The 10th National Assembly (NASS) is poised to advance legislation focusing on digital innovation and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for health diagnosis and surveillance to enhance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria. This was announced by Senate President and NASS Chairman, Godswill Akpabio, during the sixth annual Legislative Summit on Health in Abuja. Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, emphasized the development of telemedicine, electronic health records, and AI-driven diagnostics and surveillance aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akpabio outlined NASS’s plans to review, strengthen, and modernize laws in alignment with global standards, ensuring that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund reaches all target communities. He stressed the importance of building a digital infrastructure that connects primary health centers with tertiary hospitals, ensuring continuity of care, transparency, and accountability. Akpabio affirmed the resolve to prioritize health in national development, committing to defend its funding, enforce its accountability, and protect the rights and welfare of health sector workers.
Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Chairperson NASS Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), noted that the summit’s theme reflects a collective commitment to building an equitable, accessible, innovative, and future-ready health system. Harry-Banigo, also the Chair of the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU), highlighted the necessity for adequate funding, policy, and a strong, adaptive system driven by innovation, knowledge, and collaboration to achieve UHC.
Additionally, Dr. Salma Ibrahim-Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to accelerating UHC, digital transformation, human capital development, and essential infrastructure. Dr. Pavel Ursu, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, emphasized that the summit would drive health reforms for economic improvement and poverty reduction. Ms. Muriel Mafico, UNFPA Resident Representative, expressed UNFPA’s commitment to supporting sector-wide health reforms, underscoring the importance of making UHC a reality for all Nigerians.