Telemedicine in Nigeria: How Virtual Care Is Changing Healthcare Access

The world is going digital, and healthcare isn’t left behind. The days where in-person consultations were the only option to access healthcare are now behind us. With the overwhelming disparity of the doctor to patient ratio in Nigeria, and even worldwide, telemedicine has emerged to bridge the gap between patients and access to healthcare. 

If you’re skeptical about how something as important as a trip to the doctor’s office can simply be a discussion over the phone, this article aims to demystify telemedicine and discuss why it is an option for many Nigerians today.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine, according to the World Medical Association (WMA), is the practice of medicine over a distance, in which interventions, diagnoses, therapeutic decisions, and subsequent treatment recommendations are based on patient data, documents, and other information transmitted through telecommunications systems. 

In essence, telemedicine involves any medical consultation where the doctor and the patient are not in the same location. Telemedicine can take many forms, with some consultations happening through video calls, some through audio calls, and others through sending text messages. 

“Telehealth” is a term that is sometimes used interchangeably with telemedicine, and their meanings overlap. The major difference is that telehealth covers a wider scope, which involves not just consultations, but also technological devices used for improving healthcare, such as wearable patient devices and mobile applications.

The Evolution of Telemedicine

Although telemedicine may sound like it only came into existence a few years ago, the earliest mention of this concept dates all the way back to the 1860s. During this era, soldiers in the American Civil War were able to order medical supplies and report causalities over the phone. In the 1950s, the term “telognosis” was used to describe how x-ray images were transmitted to distant sites to make medical diagnoses.¹

In fact, a lot of the historical basis of telemedicine was born from the need to interpret images and test results despite the barrier of distance. 

However, telemedicine really started kicking off in the 1990s when the American Telemedicine Association was founded in 1993. Then, in 1997, the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH) was formed. 

After this developmental phase in the 90s, it started maturing and expanding from 2000-2010, and now, telemedicine and telehealth cover not just consultations between patients and doctors, but also involve using wearable patient devices, performing procedures remotely with robots and the development of mobile apps that allow seamless tracking of patient information and health conditions.

What about in Nigeria?

Nigeria’s telemedicine story has taken a much slower course over the last few decades. In 2005, the Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria (SfTeHIN) was formed, and this was the first step taken.

In 2007, the National Space Research and Development Agency collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health to train hospitals and 6 Federal Medical Centres to use ICT. 

However, the COVID 19 pandemic can be seen as the most important factor in the development of telemedicine in Nigeria. During this era, with movement restrictions in place, many Nigerians had limited access to healthcare, and because telemedicine existed, people became more receptive to the concept of a “doctor in their pocket.”

Today, there are several mobile apps that offer telemedicine services that are fully functional in Nigeria.

Why Telemedicine?

If you’re reading this, you might still be wondering why telemedicine is even an option to begin with. Some reasons include:

• Comfort and convenience: If you’re Nigerian and you’re reading this, think of the last time you visited a government hospital. Merely thinking of the long wait times can discourage patients from seeking medical attention and even push them to self-medicate and use traditional medications that could be harmful. Telemedicine provides an opportunity to conveniently get medical advice while bypassing the long wait times, especially for illnesses that can be diagnosed based on symptoms alone and are not emergencies.
• Follow-up for chronic conditions: Telemedicine can be used for follow-up for patients with chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, etc. Doctors can review blood pressures, glucose levels and other test results and prescribe drugs based on their interpretation.
• Cost effectiveness: Eliminating transportation reduces the amount of money spent to access healthcare. Some companies also provide insurance for their employees that cover telemedicine services.
• Reduced exposure to infectious diseases: This was the main reason why telemedicine was such a hit during the COVID 19 pandemic. In the event of a public health crisis, telemedicine can help control spread of these diseases by preventing unnecessary exposure.
• Increased access to care for marginalised groups: The disabled community, the elderly, people in prison are all people who can benefit from telemedicine, bridging the gap between distance and access to healthcare.

Barriers of Telemedicine in Nigeria

Despite the benefits, there are certain factors hindering the progression of telemedicine in Nigeria. These include:

• Poor internet connectivity
• Lack of electricity
• Shortage of medical staff
• Lack of widespread access to mobile phones, especially in rural areas
• Perceived difficulty of use by patients
• Cultural differences/language barriers
• Concerns for data privacy²

The Future of Telemedicine in Nigeria

With the benefits that telemedicine has to offer, it has the potential to become an important branch of healthcare. We can expect:

• Wider adoption of hybrid care models that blend virtual consultation with in-person follow-up
• Growth of remote monitoring for chronic diseases using connected devices and mobile apps
• Broader access in rural communities through low bandwidth platforms and USSD-based services
• Stronger regulatory oversight by professional licensing bodies like MDCN to protect patient data and standardise digital care.
• Rise of multilingual telehealth services to improve access to non-English speaking populations
• Expansion of specialty-specific telehealth services to combat high demand and low specialist numbers

Conclusion

Telemedicine is an exciting innovation that has the potential of becoming an integral part of the Nigerian healthcare system. There are many challenges still faced, but with the collaboration of governmental institutions, healthcare professionals and the Nigerian population, these challenges can be addressed, providing an improved access to healthcare.