Nigeria has witnessed a growing interest and investment in AI-driven solutions across sectors, including healthcare. Recent initiatives such as the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), AI Innovation Hub, the Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme, and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop reflect the government’s commitment to fostering AI innovation and development in the country.
According to the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Market Analysis, AI in the healthcare market is expected to witness significant growth, surging from $0.01 billion in 2022 to $0.13 billion by 2030, reflecting a notable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.22%.
Despite progress, challenges such as a shortage of skilled AI professionals, limited access to quality healthcare data and inadequate infrastructure remain. However, Nigeria’s large population, digitalisation trends, and increasing focus on AI for economic growth present significant opportunities for AI applications in healthcare.
In March 2024, Science for Africa Foundation (SFA
Foundation), mDoc, and Nigeria Health Watch hosted a hybrid stakeholder convening, “The Nigerian AI Healthcare Horizon: Policy Strategies and Gaps.” The event explored the current landscape of AI adoption in Nigerian healthcare, including benefits, challenges, and policy recommendations to guide AI’s ethical and responsible use in healthcare.
This policy brief discusses key focus areas emerging from the convening, including regulatory frameworks, data governance, capacity building, research and innovation and international collaboration, to maximise AI’s benefits in healthcare while mitigating risks.
Leave a Reply