By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Government has launched the Automated National Standing Orders (NSO) Mobile Application for Community Health Practitioners, marking a major step toward digitizing Nigeria’s primary healthcare delivery system.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the app represents a bold shift toward efficiency, accountability, and technology-driven health service delivery. He described the innovation as a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This is not just a technology launch but a vision of equitable healthcare for all citizens,” Salako said. “By automating the Standing Orders, we are transforming a static manual into a real-time clinical decision support system that improves diagnosis, speeds up treatment, and saves lives.”
Developed by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) with support from the Health Information System Agency, the app provides digital guidelines authorizing practitioners to treat common illnesses at the primary healthcare level. Salako announced that it would become mandatory for all registered practitioners by 2027 after a two-year training and transition period.
He commended the CHPRBN and HISA teams for leading what he called “a remarkable digital transformation journey from paper to automation,” but cautioned that technology alone would not drive success. “Transforming healthcare depends on the people who use the tools,” he said, urging practitioners to embrace the platform responsibly.
Salako described the new app as a milestone in Nigeria’s digital health reform and a vital tool for improving access to quality care in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
According to a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Head, Information & Public Relations, on Saturday, the innovation reflects the Ministry’s ongoing effort to strengthen community health through technology and inter-agency collaboration.
