By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to integrate trusted digital identity into Nigeria’s healthcare system as part of its ongoing reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery, expanding financial protection and accelerating the country’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. The initiative forms part of the Renewed Hope Agenda to modernise healthcare through digital innovation.
The development was announced on Saturday, July 18, 2026, following 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 implementing opportunities created by the newly enacted NIMC Act, 2025, which strengthens Nigeria’s digital identity framework.
According to Prof. Pate, integrating trusted digital identity into healthcare will enhance patient identification, improve continuity of care, facilitate interoperable electronic medical records, strengthen disease surveillance and support evidence-based planning.
He added that the initiative would also accelerate enrolment and beneficiary verification under the National Health Insurance Scheme, ensuring more Nigerians have access to affordable healthcare services.
To ensure effective implementation, the Federal Government has established a joint technical working group comprising officials from the Ministry of Health, NIMC and relevant health agencies to coordinate the rollout.
Authorities say the digital identity initiative will promote transparency, improve healthcare governance and create a more resilient, technology-driven health system capable of delivering efficient and inclusive healthcare services across Nigeria.
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