Abstract
This article analyses the legal and institutional systems determining telemedicine in
Nigeria and determines potential areas of implementation of the system along with its
obstacles. It explores how the existing legislation is supporting the distant provision of
healthcare services, including the realms of patient confidentiality, provider licensure,
medical malpractice, and technological integration. This is a doctrinal research that
examines the constitutional provisions, specific acts to the sector like the Medical and
Dental Practitioners Act, the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, the National Health Act
2014, and the Evidence Act 2011. Results indicate that there is high regulatory
fragmentation and the absence of telemedicine-specific legislation, which results in no
homogeneity of data protection, ambiguity of professional standards, and issues of
licensure Nevertheless, telemedicine is one of the most effective mechanisms of
enhancing access to healthcare, especially in underserved areas. This article comes up
with the conclusion that Nigeria has to introduce the specific legislation to fill in the gaps
that can be observed in the legislation, and also create unified regulatory framework which will guarantee that direct telemedicine services are delivered with the care of
ethics, security, and efficiency.
Nigeria and determines potential areas of implementation of the system along with its
obstacles. It explores how the existing legislation is supporting the distant provision of
healthcare services, including the realms of patient confidentiality, provider licensure,
medical malpractice, and technological integration. This is a doctrinal research that
examines the constitutional provisions, specific acts to the sector like the Medical and
Dental Practitioners Act, the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, the National Health Act
2014, and the Evidence Act 2011. Results indicate that there is high regulatory
fragmentation and the absence of telemedicine-specific legislation, which results in no
homogeneity of data protection, ambiguity of professional standards, and issues of
licensure Nevertheless, telemedicine is one of the most effective mechanisms of
enhancing access to healthcare, especially in underserved areas. This article comes up
with the conclusion that Nigeria has to introduce the specific legislation to fill in the gaps
that can be observed in the legislation, and also create unified regulatory framework which will guarantee that direct telemedicine services are delivered with the care of
ethics, security, and efficiency.
Keywords:
Legal Framework
Regulatory Challenges
Patient Data Privacy
Cross-Border Telemedicine.
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