Nigeria’s Telemedicine Gap: Over 80% interested, less than 20% using services

The findings were disclosed by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), at the Tech Outlook event in Lagos, organised by the SATH Foundation in collaboration with the agency.

The findings point to a potential opportunity for technology companies and investors seeking to expand digital healthcare services in Nigeria, while raising questions about the factors preventing more Nigerians from translating their willingness to use telemedicine into actual usage.

“Insights of this nature could help investors identify unmet needs, enable innovators to develop relevant solutions, and guide policymakers in addressing barriers to technology adoption,” the research presentation stated.

Telemedicine uses digital communication technologies to enable patients to access healthcare services remotely, including consultations with medical professionals without necessarily visiting a hospital or clinic.

Inuwa said the research informing the Nigeria Tech Outlook could help stakeholders understand technology needs across the country and identify areas where innovation could address existing gaps.

“Insights of this nature could help investors identify unmet needs, enable innovators to develop relevant solutions, and guide policymakers in addressing barriers to technology adoption,” the research presentation stated.

The disparity between willingness to use telemedicine and actual usage illustrates the distinction between potential demand for a digital service and its adoption in practice.

For healthcare providers and technology developers, the findings could help inform decisions about the design, accessibility and delivery of digital health solutions. However, the research details presented at the event did not specify why respondents who expressed willingness to use telemedicine had not yet used the services.

Potential factors such as affordability, internet access, digital literacy, trust in remote consultations and the availability of suitable services may warrant further investigation. The available research findings, however, do not establish these factors as the reasons for the adoption gap.

The findings also highlight the importance of understanding consumer needs before developing and deploying technology products. Without evidence of what users require and the barriers they face, investments in digital solutions may fail to translate into widespread adoption.

The Nigeria Tech Outlook examines five key sectors: financial services, telecommunications, commerce and trade, government services and healthcare.

The initiative seeks to provide evidence to support policy development, investment decisions and technology adoption across these sectors, with the broader objective of strengthening Nigeria’s technology intelligence.

For the healthcare sector, a better understanding of demand for remote consultations could help stakeholders assess where digital services may complement conventional healthcare delivery.

Wider adoption, however, would depend on identifying and addressing the specific challenges faced by prospective users, while ensuring that services meet appropriate healthcare and data protection requirements.

Beyond healthcare, the research reflects a wider challenge for Nigeria’s technology ecosystem: turning interest in digital products into sustained use that creates value for individuals, businesses and the economy.

Inuwa emphasised that Nigeria’s growing pool of technology talent would not, on its own, guarantee a globally competitive innovation ecosystem.

The country also needs an environment in which innovators can develop relevant products, businesses can scale and technology can contribute to economic growth.

This approach places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes, including the ability of technology solutions to meet demonstrated needs and improve productivity, rather than innovation activity alone.

Collaboration among government, industry leaders, investors and innovators is central to the initiative.

By providing a clearer picture of technology demand across major sectors, the Nigeria Tech Outlook aims to support decisions that encourage the development of homegrown solutions and sustainable economic opportunities.

The telemedicine findings offer one example of how research into user behaviour can help identify potential areas for digital innovation. The next challenge is determining what prevents interested Nigerians from using available services and how providers, investors and policymakers can respond.

Addressing that gap could help Nigeria move beyond a growing supply of technology talent towards an innovation ecosystem in which digital solutions achieve wider adoption and deliver measurable benefits.

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