The National Assembly has committed to underwriting AI healthcare subscription costs for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) for the next five years.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, announced this significant financial relief on Monday in Abuja.
This initiative utilizes the Koyo HealthTech platform to bypass physical barriers in the medical sector.
However, the Speaker’s plan goes beyond immediate funding.
Legislative Backing for Sustainability
Tajudeen revealed that the House is drafting a bill to make this support permanent.
If passed, this legislation would mandate the Federal Government to permanently assume the cost of these subscriptions.
Currently, the National Assembly will cover the bill for the initial half-decade.
Represented by Deputy Chairman Joshua Gana, Tajudeen emphasized that health is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
“On behalf of the House of Representatives, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting this initiative through the provision of monthly subscription coverage for persons with disabilities over the next five years,” Tajudeen stated.
Bridging the Gap with AI Healthcare Subscriptions
The move addresses a critical infrastructure deficit in Nigeria.
Despite the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, physical access remains a challenge.
Recent data indicates that 28% of health facilities still lack basic accessibility features.
Consequently, digital solutions are becoming the primary bridge for exclusion.
The Koyo Navigate platform connects patients with doctor-supervised consultations and AI-driven health guidance.
Specific features include:
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Dermatological assessments.
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Communication aids for speech and hearing impairments.
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Mobility support for severe physical disabilities.
“The vast potential of Artificial Intelligence in speeding up diagnostics, providing early intervention and enabling personalised care has already been proven,” Tajudeen noted.
Pilot Phase and Tech Implementation
The program launches immediately with a pilot cohort of 350 beneficiaries.
These individuals will receive two months of free services to kickstart the partnership.
Dr. Thomas Cracknell, CEO of Koyo, explained that the app merges human medical expertise with governed artificial intelligence.
He highlighted three core functions of their AI integration:
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Ensuring shared medical knowledge is accurate and up-to-date.
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Scaling responsibly despite the nation’s doctor shortage.
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Keeping operational costs and user prices as low as possible.
“For Koyo, affordability and accessibility are not features. They are non-negotiable principles,” Cracknell said.
Stakeholder Reactions
The initiative is a collaboration between TAF Africa, Koyo HealthTech, and the Abbas Tajudeen Resource Centre for People with Disabilities.
Jake Epelle, Founder of TAF Africa, urged the executive arm of government to join the effort.
“Access to health is very pivotal if we must win the war against inclusion,” Epelle stated.
He called for a broader federal partnership to ensure the most marginalized demographics receive quality care.
Meanwhile, the Speaker outlined future plans to further improve accessibility.
These include potential subsidies, partnerships with telecom operators, and mandatory disability inclusion training for medical professionals.
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