FG expands emergency medical service to 34 states, announces digital dispatch platform
The federal government announced Thursday plans to strengthen Nigeria's emergency healthcare system by expanding the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) and developing a digital emergency dispatch platform. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, made the announcement at the 11th Annual Scientific Conference of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria in Abuja.
NEMSAS, originally a pilot project in the Federal Capital Territory, has now expanded to 34 states, bringing Nigeria closer to nationwide emergency coverage. The new digital dispatch platform will connect emergency callers, ambulance services and treatment centers through a single system, enabling real-time emergency response, patient tracking, referrals and claims management.
The minister emphasized that improving critical care requires an integrated system linking ambulance services, high-dependency units, medical oxygen systems, diagnostic services, health insurance, trained workers and rehabilitation services. The government is also installing Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants in health facilities nationwide to ensure reliable medical oxygen supply.
Sustainable financing remains essential for quality intensive care in public hospitals. Officials called for greater investment in specialist education, fellowship programmes and continuous professional development for physicians, critical care nurses and biomedical engineers. Better collaboration among federal and state governments, healthcare institutions, professional associations, development partners and the private sector is needed to translate discussions into evidence-based policies.
This expansion could significantly reduce emergency response times and improve survival rates for critical conditions across Nigeria. The digital platform may eventually provide the infrastructure for a more coordinated emergency response system.