Experts urge government to support digital health innovations and PHC strengthening


 At a recent high-level health forum in Abuja, public health experts and stakeholders called upon the Nigerian government to create more robust incentives for digital health innovators. The consensus emphasizes that while private startups are developing agile solutions for diagnostics and data management, they struggle to scale due to a lack of supportive policy frameworks and funding. Speakers argued that integrating these local innovations into the public sector is essential for revitalizing the country's Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

The discussion highlighted that PHCs are the bedrock of the national health system but often suffer from poor data visibility and supply chain inefficiencies—problems that local tech solutions are well-positioned to solve.

Recommendations included tax holidays for health-tech startups and the creation of "sandbox" environments where new digital tools can be tested within government facilities. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between the state and the tech ecosystem, experts believe Nigeria can accelerate its progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Read the original article at: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/811205-experts-urge-government-to-incentivise-digital-health-innovators-strengthen-phcs-with-local-solutions.html



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