Nigeria’s Senate Moves Forward With First Comprehensive Digital Health Bill
Nigeria’s Senate passed the National E-Health Bill 2026 in its second reading, moving the country closer to its first comprehensive legal framework for digital health services. The bill would regulate electronic medical records, telemedicine, AI-assisted diagnostics, digital prescriptions and connected health technologies while strengthening patient data protection and interoperability. The. . .
Nigeria’s Senate passed the National E-Health Bill 2026 in its second reading, moving the country closer to its first comprehensive legal framework for digital health services. The bill would regulate electronic medical records, telemedicine, AI-assisted diagnostics, digital prescriptions and connected health technologies while strengthening patient data protection and interoperability. The legislation comes as Africa’s digital health market is projected to grow from $5. 6 billion in 2025 to $7. 6 billion by 2029, driven by persistent shortages of healthcare professionals. The Senate passed the National E-Health Bill 2026 in its second reading on Wednesday, July 8. The legislation aims to create Nigeria’s first comprehensive legal framework for electronic health services. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau sponsored the bill. Senators approved the measure unanimously by voice vote before referring it to the Senate Committee on Health, which must submit its report within four weeks. The bill must still pass a third reading, secure approval from the House of Representatives and receive presidential assent before it can become law. The proposed legislation seeks to regulate, coordinate and integrate electronic health services nationwide. It covers electronic medical records, telemedicine, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics, digital prescriptions, connected health technologies and integrated health information systems. The bill also introduces safeguards for the confidentiality and security of patients’ medical data while requiring interoperability among healthcare institutions. Nigeria has experienced more than a decade of growth in digital health services, including teleconsultation start-ups, online pharmacies, electronic medical records and hospital management systems. However, the country still lacks dedicated legislation for the sector. That regulatory gap has resulted in fragmented implementation, inconsistent standards, limited interoperability among healthcare providers and legal uncertainty for companies operating digital health platforms. “Nigeria cannot afford to remain on the sidelines of the global digital health transformation. [. . . ] This bill provides the legal framework needed to modernize healthcare delivery in our hospitals,”Jibrin Barau said during the Senate debate. Nigeria has launched the legislative process as Africa's digital health sector continues to expand. Statista estimates that Africa’s e-health market reached $5. 6 billion in 2025 and will grow to $7. 6 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7. 99%. Structural shortages of healthcare workers continue to drive demand for digital solutions. Africa has one physician for every 5,000 people, compared with the World Health Organization’s benchmark of one physician per 1,000 people. In response, telemedicine increased access to healthcare by 52% in rural areas across the continent, according to 2025-2026 data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and the European Union launched a joint €8 million initiative in October 2025 to accelerate the digital transformation of health systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad QuenumAdapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum