The term artificial intelligence (AI) was coined in 1956, but its applications in healthcare began in the mid-20th century. Many countries are integrating AI into their healthcare systems, utilizing it for diagnostics, treatment, and predicting patient outcomes, among other applications. In this article, we used the WHO Health System Building Blocks framework to examine the challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system and explore how AI can be leveraged to address them.
- Service Delivery
Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges of accessible, effective, quality healthcare services. A review of 19 peer-reviewed articles and 8 grey documents revealed that there is poor coverage and persistent inequitable access to care. There are significant disparities between urban and rural areas, with rural populations having limited access to quality health services.
However, AI-powered technologies are changing the landscape. Telemedicine platforms now can be used to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers, making it possible for people in rural areas to consult with specialists in urban centres without long travel times.
AI-driven wearable devices also make healthcare more accessible, especially for underserved populations like the elderly. These devices continuously monitor health metrics, reducing hospital visits and cutting healthcare costs.
Beyond patient care, AI is streamlining healthcare workflows. Automated tools can handle administrative tasks like patient scheduling, allowing healthcare workers to focus more on patient care. Already, available information suggests that ‘Xolani AIR’, an AI tool, have features such as medical image analysis, abnormality detection, disease diagnosis, and reporting. - Health Workforce
The density of skilled health workers in Nigeria is 1·83 per 1000 people, against WHO’s recommendation of 4·45 per 1000 people. A significant number of skilled healthcare professionals emigrate due to better opportunities abroad and this exacerbates workforce shortages. Additionally, the available workers are left to work under poor environment that is usually demotivating. Available evidence also reveals that many health workers absent from duty due to many health system related causes.
The shortage of healthcare workers means that specialists in complex conditions are often in short supply and this places a heavy burden on existing ones. To address this challenge, healthcare workers need continuous training and skill enhancement. AI-powered virtual simulations and skills labs offer interactive learning experiences, allowing healthcare professionals to develop expertise in handling complex cases without disrupting patient care.
Beyond training, AI-driven analytics can help manage workforce shortages by tracking attendance patterns and identifying trends in absenteeism. By analyzing factors contributing to staff shortages—such as burnout, workload imbalances, or workplace dissatisfaction—AI can make the right recommendations. Additionally, AI-powered workforce management tools can automate the scheduling of health workers, optimize their deployment, and ensure that they are efficiently allocated to areas in pressing need. - Health Information Systems (HIS)
The National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) provides information on health service delivery and its supporting health system. Evidence suggests that the information system performance in Nigeria is subpar. Incomplete and inaccurate health data are common and hinder evidence-based decision-making and planning. One study found that these challenges are due to the high burden on providers for data collection and the many variables to be filled in the data collection tools. Also, facilities often fail to report timely and accurate health data due to inadequate training and infrastructure.
AI is transforming healthcare by automating the collection and analysis of health data, reducing errors, and improving accuracy. Just as multinational companies like Coca-Cola use AI to process vast amounts of data from different sources, similar technology can be applied in healthcare to streamline data integration. This helps in managing large datasets efficiently and supports data-driven decision-making. AI also enhances data visualization, making complex health information easier to read and interpret. - Access to Essential Medicines
In many health facilities in Nigeria, there are reports of frequent stockouts of essential drugs and medical supplies. Additionally, there is problem with functioning drug supply chain and essential medicines are often unaffordable for many Nigerians due to limited subsidies and high OOP expenditures. Furthermore, Nigeria faces a significant challenge with counterfeit and substandard medicines in circulation and the regulatory bodies have continued to face increasing challenges in putting this under control.
AI-powered solutions can help by predicting demand, preventing stockouts, and optimizing distribution routes to ensure essential medications are available when needed. Beyond supply chain efficiency, AI plays a crucial role in combating counterfeit medicines. According to research, machine learning algorithms can analyze packaging details, chemical compositions, and transaction data to detect fake drugs. Similarly, AI-powered image recognition technology can scan packaging, labels, and even the physical characteristics of medications to identify inconsistencies and flag potential counterfeits. - Health Financing
Nigeria allocates less than 5% of its GDP to health, significantly below the 15% target set by the Abuja Declaration. Compounding this issue, over 70% of healthcare expenses in the country are paid out-of-pocket (OOP), placing a heavy financial burden on households. Research indicate that health funds are often mismanaged, poorly targeted, or lost to corruption. This inefficiency further exacerbates access and affordability issues in the healthcare system.
Emerging evidence suggests that AI could revolutionize health financing by improving key processes such as revenue generation, risk pooling, and strategic purchasing. AI-driven solutions can enhance the efficiency of resource allocation, streamline access to health insurance, and support state-funded programs.
Additionally, AI’s predictive capabilities can help optimize healthcare spending by analyzing cost patterns and identifying potential savings. With the right policies and ethical frameworks in place, AI has the potential to transform health financing in Nigeria, reducing inefficiencies and making healthcare more accessible and affordable for all. - Leadership and Governance
Leadership and governance ensure that policies are strengthened and that there are regulations, and accountability mechanisms to improve healthcare. Weak leadership and governance in Nigeria’s health system are blamed for the notable failure, including mismanagement of funds and poor engagement of communities.
Despite the numerous health programs being implemented, many lack proper monitoring and evaluation to measure their impact. AI-powered tools can bridge this gap by tracking program implementation in real-time, offering valuable feedback for adjustments and improvements.
For instance, AI-driven analytics can monitor procurement processes, flagging anomalies that may indicate corruption or inefficiencies. This level of oversight enhances transparency and ensures that resources are allocated effectively.
Beyond policy and programme monitoring, AI can also strengthen governance by fostering engagement between policymakers and communities. AI-driven chatbots and digital platforms can facilitate two-way communication, enabling continuous dialogue that helps track progress, gather community feedback, and promote accountability.
Conclusion and recommendation
While AI seems promising to resolve the myriads of challenges faced by Nigeria’s healthcare system, there are many factors to consider before it reaches its full potential. First, the digital infrastructure in Nigeria is poor and a robust digital infrastructure is crucial for boosting productivity in the healthcare sectors. Also, there are ethical issues (i.e. data privacy, consent, etc.) to consider in the integration and deployment of AI in healthcare.
Many healthcare professionals in Nigeria do not have basic knowledge of AI and its applications. What this means that government must invest in capacity building – training healthcare workers and policymakers on AI tools is critical for sustainable integration.