The Federal Government has intensified efforts to integrate digital health identity into Nigeria’s healthcare system as part of reforms aimed at accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, improving patient care and expanding health insurance access for millions of citizens. The initiative is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery by connecting trusted digital identity with patient records, health insurance enrolment, disease surveillance and service delivery across the country.
The renewed push followed a strategic meeting between the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote. The discussions focused on opportunities created by the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2025.
Prof. Pate described the legislation as a landmark reform that establishes the legal framework for a secure and trusted digital health identity ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s digital healthcare transformation under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the minister, integrating trusted digital identity into healthcare will eliminate challenges associated with patient identification, improve continuity of care and support interoperable electronic medical records across health facilities nationwide. He added that the system would enhance disease surveillance, strengthen health planning and improve evidence-based decision-making while ensuring that citizens’ health information remains secure.
Pate also explained that the initiative would significantly improve enrolment and beneficiary verification under the National Health Insurance programme, expanding financial protection for millions of Nigerians and bringing the country closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
The minister disclosed that revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres currently record about 45 million patient visits every quarter, noting that a trusted digital identity system would improve efficiency in managing the increasing patient population.
To fast-track implementation, he directed the immediate establishment of a joint technical working group comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Health Data and Digital Health Coordination Office, relevant health agencies and NIMC. The committee will coordinate implementation, monitor progress and develop performance dashboards to support data-driven decision-making across the health sector.
Pate stressed that the digital health identity initiative must remain inclusive by ensuring that persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are not excluded from accessing healthcare services. Speaking at the meeting, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote said the new NIMC Act provides the legal framework for secure digital authentication, interoperability and trusted digital services across government institutions.
She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to provide the digital identity infrastructure needed to support ongoing health sector reforms. According to her, the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s whole-of-government approach to building a more efficient, transparent and technology-driven healthcare system capable of delivering equitable healthcare services to all Nigerians.
