By Umar Suleiman
Reliance HMO, a pioneering health insurance company in Nigeria, has made significant progress in Telemedicine and is transforming access to medical care in Northern Nigeria by offering a crucial lifeline to millions with limited options.
This innovative approach addresses pressing healthcare challenges and is demonstrably changing the narrative in the northern region with data-driven results. Reliance HMO’s telemedicine approach offers round-the-clock consultations, digital prescription management, as well as the choice of prescription pick-up or delivery to plan members.
Northern Nigeria’s vast and rural communities have historically faced significant challenges accessing essential healthcare services due to limited medical facilities and personnel.
However, the equation for healthcare access in these communities is changing. With a quick call or a few clicks through mobile phones, patients can now connect with healthcare providers from faraway locations and receive responsive expert advice and prescriptions.
Imagine a woman living in a remote village near Kaduna, juggling the demands of her two young children. Frequent heartburn disrupts her daily routine, and traveling for specialist medical care feels like a distant dream.
With Reliance HMO’s telemedicine service, she can now easily connect with a doctor for the consultations, prescription, and medication needed, remotely without the long journeys.
Addressing the initiative’s impact, Abere Novo, the CEO of Reliance HMO, stated, “Beyond a technological approach to medical care, Telemedicine is a lifeline for many communities in Northern Nigeria. Our goal at Reliance HMO with this new approach is to bring quality and seamless healthcare closer to every individual, regardless of location. We are determined to leverage technology to bridge the current healthcare gap in the Northern region.”
It’s exciting that Telemedicine also addresses healthcare access disparities in Northern Nigeria, particularly for women. A recent report found that over a third (35%) of telemedicine users in the region are women, highlighting its role in bridging the gender gap and overcoming traditional barriers to healthcare.
In the past few years, Reliance HMO has integrated Telemedicine into healthcare delivery across Northern Nigeria, achieving these key objectives with continuous investment and collaboration with local partners.
- Increased Adoption and Utilization: In 2023, over 1,000 patients used the Reliance HMO telemedicine services in the Northern region, resulting in approximately 5,000 consultations managed by 54 doctors. By April 2024, this number had surged to over 2,000 patients.
- Healthcare Empowerment for Women: Telemedicine’s remote approach aligns with the private and convenient health needs of women. Despite the traditional gender roles, 35% of Reliance HMO telemedicine users in Northern Nigeria in 2023 were women.
- Affordability and Accessibility: A recent telemedicine report shows that the initiative reduces local and international medical trips, addressing geographic barriers. It effectively increases health programme impact, reduces medical expenses, and improves overall health outcomes.
The significant impact of telemedicine services in Northern Nigeria demonstrates the potential of technology to address healthcare gaps. Reliance HMO’s telemedicine brings quality healthcare within everyone’s reach and fosters a healthier future for millions by facilitating access to preventive care, early diagnosis, and treatment.
Reliance HMO is the next generation HMO backed by a team of healthcare professionals and technologists with global perspectives and Nigerian roots. The health insurance company is setting a new standard through modern, inclusive and preventative health plans for companies of all sizes. As the number one telemedicine provider in Nigeria, Reliance HMO leverages technology in delivering seamless healthcare experiences.
