News Investigators/ The 10th National Assembly (NASS) is set to advance legislation on digital innovation, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for diagnosis and surveillance to enhance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
Godswill Akpabio, Senate President and Chairman, NASS, made this commitment at the sixth annual Legislative Summit on Health in Abuja on Tuesday.
The summit has as theme” Building Responsive, Sustainable Health Systems: Leveraging Action for Digital Innovation and Human Capital for Universal Health Coverage”.
Mr Akpabio, represented by Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, outlined plans to enhance telemedicine, implement electronic health records, and leverage Artificial Intelligence for diagnostics and surveillance aimed at improving health care delivery.
He revealed that the NASS would also review, strengthen, and modernise laws to reflect global best practices, and ensure that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund reached all target communities.
“We shall advance legislation that supports digital innovation – telemedicine, electronic records, the use of Artificial Intelligence for diagnosis and surveillance.
“We must build a digital backbone that connects every primary health centre with every tertiary hospital, ensuring continuity of care, transparency, and accountability,” he said.
While emphasising the need for health coverage reform, he said, “We cannot build a 21st-century nation with 19th-century tools. Innovation is not an accessory; it is our lifeline”.
He added that every clinic, ward, and laboratory must become part of a living network of data, knowledge, and service.
“I affirm our resolve to place health at the heart of national development. We shall defend its funding, enforce its accountability, and protect the rights and welfare of every worker in the health sector,” he emphasised.
In the same vein, Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Chairperson NASS committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), said the theme of the summit, reflected collective commitment to building a health system that was equitable, accessible, innovative, and future-ready.
Mr Harry-Banigo, who is also the Chair, Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage (LNU), added that achieving UHC required not only adequate funding and policy, but also a strong, adaptive system driven by innovation, knowledge, and collaboration.
“Let us reaffirm our shared resolve to legislate for impact to ensure that every law, budget, and oversight decision moves Nigeria closer to a health system that is resilient, efficient, and inclusive,” she said.
Similarly, Dr Salma Ibrahim-Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health, reaffirmed the Federal Government commitment to accelerating UHC, digital transformation, robust human capital, development and essential infrastructure.
“We are committed to achieving responsive health systems that will be affordable and accessible to all Nigerians, especially the vulnerable people,” she said.
Dr Pavel Ursu, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, said the summit would drive health reforms for population impact in terms of economic improvement and reducing poverty.
Ursu, represented by his Deputy, Dr Alex Chimbaru, added that through proactive legislative actions, Nigeria could optimise the enabling environment for innovative health financing, digital transformation, and strategic investments in human capital.
“Let us renew our resolve to translate laws into policies, policies into action, and action into measurable legislative results so that the promise of Universal Health Coverage becomes a reality for every Nigerian,” he said.
Also, Ms Muriel Mafico, Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said that UNFPA was committed to supporting the health reforms sector wide and coordinated approaches.
“This is so critical for Nigeria because the progress will be for Africa and the world at large.
“Together let us make UHC not just an aspiration but a reality for all Nigerians,” she said.
NAN