Telemedicine is increasingly being positioned as one of the most viable solutions to Nigeria’s deep-seated healthcare challenges, as chronic underfunding, acute manpower shortages and widening urban–rural disparities continue to undermine access to quality medical care across the country.
A comprehensive report on the future and opportunities of telemedicine in Nigeria paints a grim picture of the nation’s health sector, noting that healthcare spending remains at about four per cent of GDP, far below global recommendations.
Moreover, the country faces a severe shortage of medical personnel, with an estimated ratio of one doctor to 2,500 patients, while more than half of Nigerians living in rural areas lack access to essential health services.
Against this backdrop, telemedicine, defined in the report as the delivery of medical care through digital technologies such as video consultations, mobile applications and remote diagnostic tools, is gaining traction as a practical response to systemic weaknesses in the healthcare system.
According to the report, telemedicine has expanded access to healthcare services in Nigeria by an estimated 70 per cent, significantly narrowing the gap between urban and rural healthcare delivery.
Patients using telemedicine platforms have reportedly cut medical expenses by about 30 per cent, while hospital wait times have dropped by 40 per cent in pilot communities, easing pressure on overcrowded urban hospitals.
The report further highlighted that telemedicine has improved the management of non-communicable diseases, which account for nearly 29 per cent of deaths in Nigeria.
More than 30 per cent of patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes now benefit from remote monitoring and e-prescriptions, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.
In maternal healthcare, virtual prenatal services are credited with contributing to a 20 per cent reduction in maternal mortality in targeted areas.
Mental healthcare delivery has also recorded notable gains. Through virtual therapy and counselling services, telemedicine platforms have extended mental health support to over seven million Nigerians, helping to overcome stigma and geographical barriers.
Platforms such as MyMedicalBank were cited as offering daily virtual mental health services to a growing segment of urban patients, while gradually expanding outreach to underserved communities.
Beyond healthcare delivery, the report underscored telemedicine’s role in driving technological innovation and job creation.
As of 2025, Nigeria hosts more than 12 active telemedicine startups employing over 5,000 Nigerians across clinical, technical and support roles.
Companies including CloudClinic, Clafiya, CribMD, Mobihealth and Helium Health are reportedly building solutions tailored to Nigeria’s healthcare realities, while fostering skills development and supporting the country’s digital economy.
The digital health market in Nigeria is projected to generate ₦185.66 billion in revenue before the end of 2026, reflecting rising demand for remote healthcare services and increased investor interest.
Public-private partnerships currently fund about 25 per cent of telemedicine initiatives, with private providers delivering an estimated 70 per cent of healthcare services nationwide.
However, the report warned that significant challenges continue to limit the scalability of telemedicine.
Widespread poverty, limited health insurance coverage, currently below 10 per cent of the population, and low digital literacy, particularly in rural areas, remain major barriers.
Telemedicine consultations cost an average of ₦5,000, a fee many low-income households struggle to afford, while only about 28 per cent of rural Nigerians are digitally literate.
Infrastructure deficits also pose serious constraints. Unstable electricity supply, limited broadband penetration and unreliable internet connectivity, especially in rural regions, increase operational costs for telemedicine providers and reduce service quality.
The report noted that while mobile phone ownership is high nationally, smartphone penetration drops sharply in remote areas, limiting access to app-based healthcare services.
Regulatory and human capital gaps were also identified as critical concerns. The report observed that existing legal frameworks, including the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act and the Code of Medical Ethics, do not adequately address the ethical, legal and cybersecurity complexities of digital healthcare.
This regulatory lag, combined with weak cybersecurity infrastructure, has heightened data privacy concerns among users.
In addition, Nigeria’s persistent brain drain continues to undermine the sector. An estimated 20 per cent of the tech workforce and about 5,000 doctors leave the country annually, with more than 19,000 doctors reportedly emigrating over the past two decades.
Only about 30 per cent of Nigerian doctors are trained in telemedicine, while less than 35 per cent of telemedicine providers are properly licensed, raising questions about quality assurance and patient safety.
Despite these challenges, the report maintained that Nigeria’s expanding mobile and internet penetration offers strong prospects for telemedicine growth.
With over 200 million active mobile lines, 122 million internet users and increasing adoption of digital tools by healthcare providers, the foundations for large-scale telemedicine integration are already in place.
Looking ahead, the report projected that by 2035, telemedicine could reach 50 per cent of urban Nigerians and 20 per cent of the rural population, provided there are sustained investments in infrastructure, skills development and policy reform.
Advances in artificial intelligence and mobile technologies are expected to drive the next phase of growth, particularly in AI-assisted diagnostics and chronic disease management.
The report also emphasised the need to integrate telemedicine into the National Health Insurance Scheme to improve affordability and expand coverage.
Increased public funding, stronger public-private partnerships, and targeted support from non-governmental organisations, academia and philanthropists were identified as critical to scaling adoption.
In its recommendations, the report called for subsidised digital devices for rural populations, affordable internet and power solutions for telemedicine platforms, multilingual interfaces to accommodate Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, and robust public awareness campaigns to build trust in virtual care.
It also advocated dedicated licensing regimes, clearer regulations on data protection and informed consent, and expanded training programmes for healthcare professionals.
Ultimately, the report concluded that telemedicine represents not only a pathway to improved healthcare access but also a catalyst for economic diversification and human capital development.
By addressing existing structural barriers and leveraging emerging digital opportunities, telemedicine could play a transformative role in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and improving health outcomes across its diverse communities.