The Federal Government has intensified efforts to integrate trusted digital identity into Nigeria’s healthcare system as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, expanding financial protection and accelerating progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on the official X handle of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Saturday.

According to the ministry, the renewed push followed a strategic meeting between the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote.

The meeting came after a presentation on the implementation opportunities created by the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2025.

Speaking during the engagement, Pate described the Act as a landmark reform that strengthens the legal and institutional framework for a secure, trusted and sovereign digital identity ecosystem.
He said the legislation provides a significant opportunity to accelerate Nigeria’s digital health transformation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister noted that digital technology has become a key enabler of the Federal Government’s health sector reforms, supporting improved governance, better health outcomes, healthcare value chain development and stronger health security.
According to him, integrating trusted digital identity into healthcare delivery will improve patient identification, strengthen continuity of care, facilitate interoperable electronic medical records, enhance disease surveillance and support evidence-based planning across the health system.
Pate added that the initiative would also accelerate enrolment and beneficiary verification under the National Health Insurance programme, thereby expanding financial protection for millions of Nigerians and moving the country closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
He disclosed that Nigeria currently records about 45 million patient visits every quarter across revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres, stressing that trusted digital identity would enable more efficient service delivery while ensuring the security and protection of citizens’ data.

To accelerate implementation, the minister directed the establishment of a joint technical working group comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Health Data and Digital Health Coordination Office, relevant health agencies and NIMC.

The working group is expected to harmonise implementation efforts, monitor progress and develop performance dashboards to support evidence-based decision-making across the health sector.

Pate also emphasised the need to ensure that the digital identity ecosystem remains inclusive and accessible to all Nigerians, including persons living with disabilities, to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s digital and health transformation.

Earlier, Coker-Odusote said the newly enacted NIMC Act provides the legal framework for secure digital authentication, interoperability and trusted digital services across government institutions.

She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to provide the digital identity infrastructure required for the successful implementation of the country’s health sector reforms.

According to the ministry, the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s whole-of-government approach to reform by recognising trusted digital identity as a critical enabler of more efficient, transparent and people-centred healthcare delivery.

It added that strengthening digital integration across the health sector would help build a more connected and resilient health system capable of delivering equitable, technology-enabled healthcare services while accelerating Nigeria’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.