Definition & background
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is the use of machine learning to assist and, ideally, improve the patient experience, hospital operations, and expenses. In Nigeria, AI is slowly but surely becoming a hot topic in telemedicine, diagnostic tools, and hospital management but has not scratched the surface due to the challenges in the Nigerian system as a whole, underfunding, and insufficient research.
Main ethical issues of AI in Nigerian healthcare
Issues with data protection laws: AI systems need a lot of data to work properly and with a good percentage of accuracy, including detailed patient information for accurate diagnosis and predictions. Unfortunately, Nigeria doesn’t have strong data protection laws, which means patient data could be misused or it could enter into the wrong hands , either intentionally or unintentionally. This could then result in infringement of privacy, identity theft, or even medical exploitation.
Bias & discrimination: models of AI are mostly trained on global data collections that may not accurately reflect Nigeria’s diverse population in terms of genetics, environment, and healthcare needs. As a result, these models have the tendency to make incorrect predictions or diagnosis when applied to Nigerian patients, which could lead to ineffective treatments.
Informed consent: Many Nigerians may not fully understand how their health data is used in ai systems, raising concerns about proper patient consent. This challenge is influenced by Nigeria’s literacy rates, with about 40.43% of the population being illiterate. Even among those who are literate, many may not understand healthcare technology, leading to confusion about how their personal data is being collected and used. For AI systems to be truly effective and ethical, there needs to be an emphasis on ensuring that all patients, regardless of literacy or technological understanding, can give informed consent.
Religion and Ai in healthcare: In Nigeria, religious beliefs have influenced health care decisions since the beginning of time. An honorable mention that I personally remember hearing of and witnessing was the refusal to be vaccinated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people rejected the vaccine because of the concern that it did not align with their faith,or they simply saw it as tampering or interfering with divine will of God or whoever they serve. Also, AI in healthcare will definitely face resistance from some religious communities who may view the technology as misaligned with their beliefs about healing and reliance on faith for restoration of health.
Acknowledgment of error: This could be considered an extremely grey area because when AI makes errors in diagnosis or treatment, it is not so clear whether responsibility falls on the software developers, healthcare providers, or regulatory bodies. If a loved one is lost due to an AI-related mistake, it is normal for family members to want to assign blame as a way of coping with the emotional pain and loss. The confusion around accountability in AI systems makes this even more complicated because without a particular person to hold responsible, whether it is the developers, the medical professionals who relied on the AI, or regulatory bodies, the grieving process can be even more difficult and challenging, because now, there is no particular person or party to direct that frustration or blame towards. This shows the need for clear and very direct legal frameworks to address loss and ensure that AI in healthcare is used responsibly.
Job displacement: Increased automation could replace certain healthcare roles, particularly in administrative tasks and diagnostic functions, which can lead to job loss or shifts in employment. Healthcare or administrative workers with years of real life experience, like phlebotomists , record keepers, surgical assistants etc might feel their skills are being replaced by automated systems. Jobs that used to depend on human expertise and intuition could be tagged old fashioned , leaving many workers unsure about their job security. While automation can bring greater performance , it also raises concerns about the impact on people whose jobs may be lost or changed.
Inequality in access due to the internet: Ai driven healthcare solutions can be expensive and need reliable and strong internet, which many rural areas in Nigeria don’t have. This poses a challenge as people in these areas automatically benefit less from the technology, which beyond any doubt creates a gap between urban and rural healthcare access.
Important Data and Statistics regarding AI in Nigerian healthcare
Nigeria is facing a very serious shortage of healthcare workers, with only about 0.4 doctors for every 1,000 people, much lower than the world health organization’s (WHO) recommended 1 doctor for every 600 patients. This shows a big need for solutions like artificial intelligence (ai) to help improve healthcare.According to google, Nigeria also has over 400 ai companies, which proof of how ai is growing in different sectors, healthcare inclusive. But rightfully so, there are still concerns about how personal health data is being handled, especially since the Nigeria data protection regulation (NDPR) which was passed in 2019 by the National information technology development agency (NITDA), is not being taken seriously.
AI use in Nigeria's healthcare is still growing but is not yet widespread. By 2024, 77% of healthcare workers believe AI can help improve service delivery. but 61.2% think ai services are more expensive than traditional ones. Despite the cost worries, Nigeria's ai healthcare market is expected to grow fast, from $0.01 billion in 2022 to $0.13 billion by 2030, with a growth rate of 46.22% each year. These numbers show the potential for AI to help solve the shortage of healthcare workers, but there are still challenges with cost and infrastructure that need to be addressed for wider use.
Current trends & developments in AI applications in Nigerian healthcare
a. Startups using AI to improve healthcare
Companies like Lifebank are using AI to manage blood supply, making sure hospitals get blood when they need it. This has helped reduce shortages and save lives.
b. Breast cancer detection and diagnosis
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) now uses AI to check mammograms, helping doctors detect breast cancer early. This means better chances of survival for patients.
c. Digital Healthcare
Platforms like Wellvis allow people to talk to doctors online, especially in places where hospitals are far or expensive. AI helps check symptoms and suggest if someone needs urgent care.
d. Diagnosing of infectious diseases
Care AI has made it easier to detect malaria, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever using AI and simple blood tests which makes diagnosis faster and more accurate.
e. Detecting fake drugs
ZMP Inc. created an app that lets people scan drug barcodes with their phones to check if a drug is original or fake .This is helping combat the rampant issue of fake drugs in Nigeria.
f. Clinical decision-making
Xolani Health uses AI to help doctors analyze medical images like X-rays and scans. It reduces mistakes in diagnosis and helps patients get the right treatment.
g. Medicine ordering & delivery
Arone is using AI and drones to deliver medicine faster. Apps like Chowdeck, Glovo, and Jumia Foods also let people order medicine from pharmacies from their app and get it delivered to them.
h. Birth asphyxia diagnosis
Ubenwa, a Nigerian startup, built an AI system that listens to a newborn’s cry to detect birth asphyxia. This can help doctors act fast and prevent complications.
i. AI-powered chatbots & virtual doctors
Some hospitals now use AI chatbots and virtual doctors to answer health questions and give advice, so patients don’t always have to wait for a doctor.
Examples include:
• Reliance HMO chatbot – helps people check symptoms, book doctor appointments, and get health tips.
• K Health – an AI doctor that gives health advice based on symptoms and medical history.
• Wellvis Symptom Checker – a telehealth tool that helps people assess their symptoms before connecting them to a doctor.
Causes and effects of ethical concerns
• AI models are not trained with Nigerian data → They rely on foreign data → Can lead to wrong diagnosis.
• Weak data protection laws → Patient info isn’t secure → People may lose trust in AI healthcare.
• AI tools are too expensive → Only a few can afford them → It widens the gap between rich and poor in healthcare.
Possible solutions & best practices
• Make stronger laws to protect patient data.
• Use Nigerian data to train AI models so they work better for us.
• Teach doctors and patients about AI so they know what they’re signing up for.
• Set clear rules on who is responsible when AI makes a mistake.
Alternative Views
• Some say AI can help with the doctor/nurse shortage in Nigeria.
• Others believe AI is fine as long as there are proper rules in place.
• AI can also help hospitals run better by detecting fraud and managing resources.
Conclusion & personal insight
As a nurse, I believe Ai has the potential to transform healthcare in Nigeria by making diagnosis faster, improving the treatment accuracy, and easing a lot of workload on healthcare professionals. Most healthcare professionals in Nigeria are overworked and underpaid, and also under a lot of pressure.
Concerns about data privacy are definitely very valid, but I think the focus should be on implementing strong regulations rather than rejecting the technology altogether. I see how AI can seriously improve patient care, reduce errors, and even create new opportunities for healthcare workers. Instead of fearing change, we should embrace it while pushing for ethical and secure Ai use in our healthcare system.