Governor to adopt telemedicine to tackle medical tourism, manpower gap

Bill, Melinda Gates chart path to polio eradication

To bridge the manpower gap in the health sector and reduce medical tourism, the Federal Government yesterday announced plans to adopt the use of telemedicine.

This, according to government, would further expand the nation’s ability to provide what it described as excellent medical service through e-health support.

Experts say telemedicine allows health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients in remote locations using telecommunications technology. It also allows patients to access medical services quickly without traveling overseas.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said at the Future of Health Conference in Abuja: “This will help address the issues in health service delivery such as scarce skills and medical tourism.”

The conference, organised by Nigerian Health Watch, brought together stakeholders in the health and technology sectors to discuss strategies for a more innovative sector.

Represented by Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, the Director of Special Duties at the ministry, the minister also spoke of government’s plans to establish a fund to support innovations by the private sector.

Also, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has highlighted ways to achieve total eradication of polio and reduce maternal deaths in Nigeria.

Country Director of the foundation, Dr. Mairo Mandara, stated this while speaking on “Health and technology: Making science serve the context” at the conference.

According to her: “I know that health is not about diseases, and health is not static. Health is about complete, physical mental and social wellbeing and it is about the eco-system of this variable that no one stays in one place.”