An Examination of the Legal Regime for the Practice of Telemedicine in Nigeria

The practice of medicine has evolved over the years and with the aid of technology, telemedicine has proven that effective healthcare delivery is possible, even when the medical practitioner and the patient are not in the same location. In Nigeria, as in most places across the globe, telemedicine is a relatively new concept and there is no singular piece of legislation specifically dedicated to the practice of telemedicine in Nigeria. Relying on the doctrinal research methodology, this paper examines broad spectrum of laws that directly or indirectly impact on the operationality of telemedicine in Nigeria. The paper finds that whereas they are laws in Nigeria that impact on the practice of telemedicine either directly or indirectly, the only detailed provision on telemedicine is in the Code of Medical Ethics, which provided for telemedicine in general terms without stating the kind of ailment that could be treated by telemedicine, the standard of care that should be met in the usage of telemedicine, the kind of telemedicine equipment that should be used and so on. Given the multidisciplinary nature of telemedicine, the Code of Medical Ethics is grossly inadequate in regulating telemedicine in Nigeria. So, there is need for a comprehensive legal framework on telemedicine in Nigeria.