By Hassan Hussain
Digital health experts have called for a shift from short-term pilot projects to sustainable, nationally driven solutions that can strengthen healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes across Nigeria and Africa.
The experts made the call at a high-level roundtable in Abuja organised ahead of the Africa Digital Health Summit.
They stressed the need for stronger government ownership, sustainable financing, interoperability of digital platforms, and increased collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector.
The roundtable, with the theme “From Pilot to Scale: Shaping the Future of Health Innovation,” was organised by Vantage Health Technologies, a member of the BroadReach Group, in partnership with the Network for Health Equity and Development, NHED.
The meeting brought together senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme, NASCP, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, development partners, technology experts, academia, and private sector organisations.
Participants examined ways to move successful digital health innovations beyond trial stages and integrate them into national health systems.
Speaking at the event, Paul Bhuhi of Vantage Health Technologies said the focus should now shift from proving the effectiveness of digital solutions to ensuring they are sustainably implemented at scale.
He noted that while Africa has recorded increased investment in digital health innovations, the major challenge remains integrating successful solutions into routine healthcare systems through government leadership, partnerships, and long-term planning.
Also speaking, the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ovuoraye John A., called on stakeholders to focus on expanding digital health solutions that have already demonstrated impact.
Dr. Ovuoraye said Nigeria has reached a point where attention must move from repeated pilot programmes to scaling innovations that can contribute to stronger health systems.
The stakeholders agreed that technology alone cannot transform healthcare. They stressed that successful digital health adoption requires supportive policies, adequate financing, skilled manpower, effective governance, data protection, and the proper use of information for decision-making.
The Country Director of the Network for Health Equity and Development, Dr. Emmanuel Sokpo, said digital innovations must strengthen existing healthcare structures rather than operate as separate systems.
He emphasised that effective scale-up depends on government ownership, reliable data, collaboration, and integration into routine health programmes.
The Strategic Technical Adviser, NHED, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, identified interoperability and dependable data systems as key factors in ensuring digital health solutions deliver meaningful impact.
The meeting also discussed the role of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics in improving disease surveillance, programme monitoring, resource allocation, and evidence-based healthcare decisions.
Participants cited digital platforms, including AIM250 and Naij Pro720, as examples of innovations that have improved programme management through better data visibility and informed decision-making.
Presenting the Naij Pro720 experience, Senior Technical Specialist at NASCP, Dr. Dike Kachiside, said the platform helps convert routine health data into actionable information for programme managers at facility, state, and national levels.
At the end of the roundtable, stakeholders identified key priorities including stronger government leadership, improved integration of digital platforms, sustainable financing, responsible application of artificial intelligence, workforce development, and stronger partnerships among governments, technology providers, development organisations, and communities.
They expressed confidence that increased investment and collaboration in digital health would support the development of more resilient, responsive, and data-driven healthcare systems across Africa.
The recommendations from the meeting are expected to contribute to discussions at the forthcoming Africa Digital Health Summit and support efforts to expand access to quality healthcare across the continent.
