WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, speaking during the 6th Annual Legislative Summit on Health in Abuja.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian lawmakers have called for urgent reforms to digitize the country’s health system, warning that the lack of reliable data and weak infrastructure continue to slow progress toward universal health coverage (UHC).
Speaking at the 6th Annual Legislative Summit on Health in Abuja, Dr. Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative to Nigeria, described digital transformation as “no longer an option but an imperative” for improving health outcomes.
“Data and digital systems, together with human resources, are the accelerators and the foundation for us to advance health outcomes and strengthen universal coverage,” Ursu said.
He noted that while Nigeria has the technical expertise and talent to build a stronger system, implementation bottlenecks, especially at the state and local levels, remain a major challenge.
“There is no lack of knowledge,” he added. “The difficulty lies in translating that knowledge into action through stronger coordination and legislative support.”
Legislators Seek Sustainable, Locally Driven Financing
Also speaking, Senator (Dr.) Ipalibo Banigo, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said the National Assembly was committed to addressing legislative and funding gaps affecting Nigeria’s healthcare system.
She announced that lawmakers had already approved the increase of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from one to two percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and that a public hearing on the amendment of the National Health Act would hold later this month.
“We are developing laws that will strengthen digital innovation, energy sustainability, and health financing,” Banigo said. “Our goal is to build a system where funds are released and accounted for, and where every naira spent reflects on people’s lives.”
Banigo also revealed that the Senate had held a debate on imposing excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to boost domestic health financing and reduce dependence on foreign aid.
Persistent Gaps, New Commitments
A communiqué issued at the end of the two-day summit, themed “Building Responsive, Sustainable Health Systems: Leveraging Legislative Action for Digital Innovation and Human Capital for UHC,” highlighted persistent challenges in data interoperability and limited private sector integration.
It also underscored climate resilience, oversight, and phased solarisation of health facilities as legislative priorities for the 10th National Assembly.
Delegates cited weak interoperability between digital health platforms, poor data reliability, limited infrastructure, and high digital illiteracy as major obstacles. They called for stronger data protection frameworks and inclusive digital policies to ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind.
Key resolutions included:
- Integrating private health providers into national digital systems
- Expanding solar-powered infrastructure for health facilities
- Improving data interoperability and protection
- Investing in digital literacy and health worker training
- Strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms in public health spending
Health Security as National Priority
Delivering the opening address on behalf of Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin reiterated that “the health of a nation is the truest measure of its wealth.”
He pledged the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to prioritising healthcare through effective laws, local pharmaceutical production, and the integration of primary health centres into tertiary care systems.
“Health security is national security,” he said. “Every health facility should serve as a data collection hub for informed policymaking.”
The summit brought together representatives from federal and state legislatures, the Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NAFDAC, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank, and international delegates from the ECOWAS and Gambian Parliaments.
Delegates agreed that effective legislation, transparent data systems, and sustainable financing remain central to achieving equitable healthcare in Nigeria.
Reporting by Toyeebat Aremu; Editing by Julian Adetinuyo
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