The migration of Nigerians to foreign countries for better life opportunities is putting pressure on the country’s medical system.
Known as Japa syndrome, the phenomenon has pushed medical manpower below the United Nations (UN) standard and overstretching available professionals.
Consequently, medical experts are now integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ease their job.
With AI adaptation beginning to gain ground, experts acknowledge its potential to revolutionise healthcare systems globally.
Countries like India and Turkey serve as models of AI-driven transformation.
While AI has the potential to revolutionise diagnostics, surgeries, and treatment outcomes, it is widely acknowledged that its acceptance in Nigeria remains a subject of ongoing debate as medical experts deliberate its benefits and challenges.
In diagnostics and surgeries, an Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Prof Mike Ogirima, highlighted AI’s remarkable role in diagnostics, mainly through machine learning and natural language processing.
“For those who are versatile, AI is a welcome development,” Ogirima stated.
He, however, expressed concern about AI replacing human expertise, especially in surgical practice.
“While AI enhances precision in musculoskeletal surgeries, it cannot entirely substitute human judgement and skills,” he explained, emphasising that ongoing AI research deserves support to advance Nigerian medicine.
Corroborating this, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology expert, Prof Oladapo Ladipo, described AI as a technological revolution that “has come to stay.
“From robotic surgeries to epidemic management, AI can operate effectively in high-risk environments with limited human capabilities.
“Robots will eventually perform tasks traditionally handled by healthcare workers,” Ladipo predicted.
He also pointed to futuristic possibilities such as artificial wombs and genetic customisation, illustrating AI’s far-reaching impact on medicine.
Addressing Nigeria’s ongoing brain drain in the healthcare sector, Prof Ladipo dismissed fears of AI worsening the situation. Instead, he believes AI will motivate Nigerian professionals to pursue advanced knowledge abroad and return to share their expertise domestically.
On bridging the gap in healthcare access, the director of projects at the Development Research and Project Centre (DRPC), Dr Stanley Ukpai, underscored the need for a phased approach to digital healthcare adoption.
He advocated practical solutions, such as telemedicine and digital hospitals, to address the country’s chronic doctor shortages, particularly in rural areas.
“Telemedicine allows doctors in urban centres to consult remotely with patients in underserved regions, guiding on-site healthcare workers and managing cases without physical presence,” Ukpai explained.
He cited India’s success with telemedicine as a model for Nigeria to emulate.
“The potential for AI in healthcare is immense. If the government can get it right, get the right investment, and then get the right personnel and technicians to support this, I think all those mortality indices we are seeing will be reduced because AI and robotics will account for all the odds,” he added.
Dr Ukpai emphasised robotics’ potential in the country, noting Turkey’s success with AI-assisted knee and hip replacement surgeries. Robotic surgeries can lead to faster recovery and fewer complications by reducing human error and improving precision.
“The point I’m trying to make is that telemedicine, digital solutions, robotics, and AI can reduce human error by almost 99 per cent. And once you’ve eliminated human error, complications and recovery time would be massively reduced. So, that’s its cascading effect,” he said.
However, the cost of acquiring and maintaining robotic systems remains a challenge. Ukpai proposed partnerships between the government, private sector, and insurance companies to overcome these financial hurdles.
Despite its promise, adopting AI and robotics in the country’s healthcare depends largely on government commitment. Strategic funding, infrastructure development, and supportive legislation are essential to unlock AI’s full potential.
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Ekpe Philips emphasised the importance of embracing AI solutions, such as electronic medical records and treatment guidance systems. “Artificial intelligence is wonderful. The world is moving forward, and Nigeria cannot afford to lag,” he said.
Dr Philips, however, distinguished AI from telemedicine, clarifying that telemedicine relies heavily on human-to-human interaction for patient management, especially in areas lacking physical medical resources.
While AI promises to transform healthcare delivery in the country, from bridging gaps in rural areas to improving surgical precision, its success depends on strategic government action, collaboration with the private sector, and ongoing capacity-building among healthcare professionals.
The director and national coordinator of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adebobola Bashorun, said that the federal government is enhancing digitalisation in health, a move championed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate.
The initiative aims to harness technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to improve service delivery across the nation’s healthcare facilities.
“Based on the digitalisation in health agenda that is being implemented as a pillar in the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) of the current government, as a set of initiatives of the current government. Artificial intelligence is part of it.
“So it’s a welcome idea. Digitalisation in health is a priority for Mr President. It’s also a priority of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Hon. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare. So definitely, technology will be supported to achieve a lot of these directions,” he said.
According to Dr. Bashorun, one of the cornerstones of this administration’s health agenda is the digitalisation of healthcare services. By integrating computerised and electronic systems, the government seeks to streamline processes, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and improve patient outcomes.
He said the use of AI in this context is seen as a game-changer, offering predictive models, question-and-answer systems, and even chatGPT functionalities to aid healthcare professionals.
He said: “Yes, the future is very, very bright. But you know, AI is not just a standalone system. Artificial intelligence is built on an electronic system.
“So we need to have a good artificial intelligence structure. It must have an Android computer system. It must have data inputted into it.”
Contrary to fears that AI might displace human workers, Dr Bashorun told LEADERSHIP that the technology complements human expertise. For instance, AI can provide probabilistic answers based on symptoms, aiding doctors in diagnosing conditions like malaria. However, he explained that the final judgment remains with the healthcare professional, ensuring a balance between technological input and human insight.
“Artificial intelligence will give you the variables, the probability answers. You will now apply your knowledge as a doctor to know whether it is true, said Dr Bashorun, adding that the symbiotic relationship ensures that while AI enhances efficiency and accuracy, the human element remains integral to healthcare delivery.
Despite the promising outlook, the path to fully integrating AI into the country’s healthcare system is challenging. Key among these are the need for adequate infrastructure, reliable internet connectivity, and consistent power supply. “Artificial intelligence deals a lot with internet systems. And it needs electricity to power the system,” he said.
Moreover, while funding is often cited as a hurdle, Dr. Bashorun says the focus should be on the effective use of resources. He says investments are needed in AI technology and building robust structures, ensuring power stability, and enhancing internet services.
The future of AI in Nigeria’s healthcare is undoubtedly promising. However, Dr. Bashorun emphasised that it requires a gradual and systematic approach. “Artificial intelligence is not a day’s work. You build it into your existing system and use it in the future. It is part of the system and futuristic thinking. But it must start with the digitalisation of the health agenda that the government has already started.”
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