The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to integrate a trusted digital identity system into Nigeria’s healthcare sector as part of reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery, expanding financial protection and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
The development was announced in a statement published on the official X account of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Saturday.
According to the ministry, the initiative 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 meeting focused on opportunities presented by the recently enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2025, particularly its role in supporting healthcare reforms.
Pate described the legislation as a major milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for a secure, reliable and sovereign digital identity ecosystem. He said the law aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and provides a pathway to accelerate the country’s digital health transformation.
He explained that digital technology remains central to the government’s healthcare reforms by improving governance, strengthening health security, enhancing service delivery and supporting the development of the health value chain.
According to the minister, integrating digital identity into healthcare will improve patient identification, promote continuity of care, enable interoperable electronic medical records, strengthen disease surveillance and support better planning through data-driven decision-making.
Pate also noted that the initiative would speed up enrolment and beneficiary verification under the National Health Insurance programme, increasing financial protection for millions of Nigerians while advancing the country’s UHC target for 2030.
He revealed that revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres currently handle about 45 million patient visits every quarter, stressing that a trusted digital identity system would improve efficiency while safeguarding citizens’ personal data.
To fast-track implementation, the minister directed the 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 team will coordinate implementation efforts, monitor progress and develop performance dashboards to support evidence-based decision-making across the healthcare sector.
Pate further stressed the importance of making the digital identity system inclusive and accessible, ensuring that persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are not excluded from the country’s digital and healthcare transformation.
Speaking earlier, Coker-Odusote said the new NIMC Act provides a solid legal foundation for secure digital authentication, interoperability and trusted digital services across government institutions.
She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Health to provide the digital identity infrastructure needed to support the successful implementation of ongoing healthcare reforms.
The ministry added that the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s whole-of-government approach to reform, recognising trusted digital identity as a key driver of efficient, transparent and citizen-centred healthcare delivery.
It noted that stronger digital integration across the health sector would help create a more connected, resilient and technology-driven healthcare system capable of delivering equitable services while accelerating Nigeria’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage.
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