ABSTRACT

The worldwide progress in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry continues to transform the human standard of living. It intermingles with virtually all lines of work and positively improves the patterns and facilitates the speedy execution of work. By the click of a button, the void of distance and ignorance are broken thereby ushering new landscapes for opportunities.

Few years ago, technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) were topics preached like the Biblical Ark of Noah – get in and own the future or risk the converse. Today, the future of Medicine is inseparable from Technology. As a matter of fact, the future is more than just within reaching distance; it touches our life paths day after day. This ‘future’ is Telemedicine, which, in fuller terms, is referred to as ‘Technological Medicine’. It is medicine ‘at a distance’, medical services at ‘individuals’ comfort and consultation at ease from any place and with anyone in real-time.

INTRODUCTION

In Nigeria, the importance of t–0elemedicine cannot be overstretched. The challenges of insufficient medical personnel, dilapidated hospital infrastructure, emasculated medical aids and life-threatening road networks in most rural areas, and difficulty in accessing hospitals in cities due to constant traffic congestion are rife. To achieve a telemedicine system in Nigeria which meets the high standards of conventional medicine, a proper legal framework and guide must be laid down by appropriate agencies; this is crucial because telemedicine encompasses general legal matters like data protection, consent, informed consent, privacy, medical negligence, contracts, medical ethics; and more specific medico-legal and ethical concerns like e-advising, e-consultation, e-prescribing, e-dispensing and e-consent.

This Article is therefore aimed at enlightening the public and more importantly, pointing out gaps in Nigerian legislations to relevant authorities, concerned regulatory bodies and other stakeholders in order to formulate a wholesome and proactive policy for telemedicine in Nigeria Click here to continue reading this insightful article.

 

The author, Adeoye Damilare Adetayo Esq, is a member of the World Association for Medical Law and Center for Medical Law Research and   Development, he can be reached via adamilreadetayo@yahoo.com  and +234 (0)8165548350