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Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The UNICCON group has urged the federal government to integrate telemedicine in Nigerian hospitals to improve health care delivery in the country.

The Chairman of UNNICON Group,  Prof. Chuks Ekwueme made the call at the launch of an AI-driven telemedicine healthcare, “MySmartMedic” designed to help improve Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system,  in Abuja.

The group on Monday did a pilot test of the AI-powered telemedicine software, at Galadimawa Village in Abuja, aiming to expand access to quality healthcare in rural communities.

 Ekwueme said, healthcare delivery should be convenient, not complicated, adding that MySmartMedic would ensure access to quality medical advice in minutes to everyone, regardless of location or financial status.

“MySmartMedic will revolutionise Nigeria’s healthcare accessibility challenges, with seamless offers, affordable, and secure way for Nigerians to speak with licensed doctors, get e-prescriptions, and receive AI-powered health recommendations anytime, anywhere.

“It will be a very good initiative for government owned hospitals to collaborate with telemedicine providers, by integrating that into it’s hospital management system.

“With a doctor-to-patient ratio far below WHO recommendations, MySmartMedic’s AI system will help to analyse symptoms and recommend next steps, significantly reducing consultation times and improving diagnosis accuracy,” he said.

On the impact it will have in the healthcare sector, he said, “it will reduce cost, gap in manpower supply, increase efficiency, increase reach and reduce stress on government facilities.”

The platform  he said also offers instant doctor consultations via video, audio, or chat prescription refills, drug delivery for seamless medication access, specialist Access for chronic disease management, dermatology, mental health, and more.

“Given the shortfall in healthcare workers, health centres and funding, Telemedicine remains the easiest, fastest and affordable means of offering a certain category of health services to the rural areas.

“MySmartMedic aligns with Nigeria’s digital health transformation goals, aiming to support government and private healthcare initiatives in improving nationwide healthcare accessibility,” he noted.

Ekwueme stated that the inspiration behind MySmartMedic was to offer users/patients a robust healthcare application, that would ease or bridge the gap in accessing healthcare service in Africa, especially when individuals understand how hectic the process could be, due to fewer or underfunded medical facilities.

The Village Head of Galadimawa, Alhaji Musa Barde expressed happiness and enthusiasm about the potential of this initiative to bridge the healthcare gap in Nigeria.

Barde said the initiative would go a long way to help the Primary Healthcare (PHC) in the area to cater for more people in the community.

“I am very happy that you are starting with our community. I will give you my full support to ensure its success,” he said.