In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable transformation in the innovation landscape of the global healthcare industry. Much emphasis has been placed on the role of innovation, a youthful demographic, and infrastructural progress as drivers of this evolution, and experts have predicted that the global surge in investment in the sector will extend to Africa, with the Nigerian market standing out as particularly attractive.
As part of plans to bring said innovation to the healthcare sector in Nigeria, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has assembled a team of experts for the National Health Digitalization Committee (NHDC) to provide governance, strategic leadership, oversight, technical expertise and national coordination for the digitalization of Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
The esteemed team includes Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Digital Economy, Idris Alubankudi Saliu; Founder and CEO of Casava Insurance, Bode Pedro; and Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Commissioner for Health and Human Services in Ekiti State; and a renowned Global Health Leader with almost two decades of experience in health financing and system reforms.
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Also on the team are physician and passionate advocate for health equity and leadership known for transformative work in preventive healthcare through Magna Carta Health, Dr Lolade Adeyemi; and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina, among others. The committee will also receive technical support from executives at McKinsey Nigeria, and senior specialist at the World Bank Group, Marelize Gorgens.
The appointment holds significant merit, given the wealth of experience and expertise these selected members bring to the committee, which promises to be a robust platform to propel the health sector towards groundbreaking innovation. Bode Pedro stands out on the team as a seasoned tech entrepreneur, venture builder, and investor, boasting a remarkable track record spanning two decades. As the founder and CEO of Casava Insurance – Nigeria’s first fully digital insurance company – Pedro is at the forefront of transforming the insurance and health landscapes. Notably, in 2022, Casava achieved a milestone by securing a groundbreaking $4 million venture funding, marking the largest pre-seed raise for an insurtech in Africa.
Announcing the news on their social media pages, the Casava team conveyed enthusiasm regarding their founder’s appointment to the NHDC. “We are confident that Bode’s contributions to NHDC’s initiatives will bring about tangible and positive transformations for our nation and its people,” the post read.
“This appointment affirms Bode’s unwavering dedication to leveraging technology and innovation to grow Nigeria’s health and insurance sector and thus improve the healthcare experience of every Nigerian,” the statement continued.
The inauguration, held on Friday, March 15th, builds on the government’s promise to digitalise the health sector to achieve better outcomes, which the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, made in 2023. In his words, “Digitalising the health system will help facilitate accurate data to improve activities in the sector.”
