Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa

Samson Oboche Agbo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

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Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa

Samson Oboche Agbo^*

Published in International Journal of Business and Economics Research (Volume 14, Issue 6)

Received: 24 November 2025 Accepted: 4 December 2025 Published: 29 December 2025

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Abstract

Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 in Africa remains constrained by fragmented health systems, limited fiscal space, and persistent inequities in access to essential health services. This paper examines how the integration of digital health innovations and financial inclusion mechanisms can address these constraints across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It synthesizes evidence on the deployment of mobile money platforms, electronic health information systems, drone-supported supply systems, blockchain-enabled financing, and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access, efficiency, accountability, and financial protection. Using a comparative qualitative analysis of selected country experiences-Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and South Sudan, the paper identifies barriers to adoption including inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, governance fragmentation, and regulatory gaps. The analysis highlights cross-cutting enablers for successful implementation, notably strong political commitment, primary health care strengthening, interoperable digital architectures, and inclusive financing models that integrate mobile payments, microinsurance, and community-based schemes. Findings demonstrate that digital innovation alone is insufficient to achieve UHC without alignment to institutional readiness, sustainable domestic financing, ethical and regulatory safeguards, and community-driven implementation. The paper concludes with policy and implementation priorities centered on domestic ownership, adaptive regulation, public-private partnerships, and long-term investment in health system capacity. Overall, the study provides an evidence-informed assessment of how digital health and financial inclusion, when jointly embedded within broader health system reforms, can accelerate equitable progress toward UHC in Africa.

Published in	International Journal of Business and Economics Research (Volume 14, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
Page(s)	272-285
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Digital Health, Financial Inclusion, Universal Health Coverage, Mobile Money, Artificial Intelligence, Health Financing, Primary Health Care, Africa

References

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APA Style

Agbo, S. O. (2025). Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa. International Journal of Business and Economics Research, 14(6), 272-285. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

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ACS Style

Agbo, S. O. Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa. Int. J. Bus. Econ. Res. 2025, 14(6), 272-285. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

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AMA Style

Agbo SO. Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa. Int J Bus Econ Res. 2025;14(6):272-285. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15,
  author = {Samson Oboche Agbo},
  title = {Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa},
  journal = {International Journal of Business and Economics Research},
  volume = {14},
  number = {6},
  pages = {272-285},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijber.20251406.15},
  abstract = {Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 in Africa remains constrained by fragmented health systems, limited fiscal space, and persistent inequities in access to essential health services. This paper examines how the integration of digital health innovations and financial inclusion mechanisms can address these constraints across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It synthesizes evidence on the deployment of mobile money platforms, electronic health information systems, drone-supported supply systems, blockchain-enabled financing, and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access, efficiency, accountability, and financial protection. Using a comparative qualitative analysis of selected country experiences-Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and South Sudan, the paper identifies barriers to adoption including inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, governance fragmentation, and regulatory gaps. The analysis highlights cross-cutting enablers for successful implementation, notably strong political commitment, primary health care strengthening, interoperable digital architectures, and inclusive financing models that integrate mobile payments, microinsurance, and community-based schemes. Findings demonstrate that digital innovation alone is insufficient to achieve UHC without alignment to institutional readiness, sustainable domestic financing, ethical and regulatory safeguards, and community-driven implementation. The paper concludes with policy and implementation priorities centered on domestic ownership, adaptive regulation, public-private partnerships, and long-term investment in health system capacity. Overall, the study provides an evidence-informed assessment of how digital health and financial inclusion, when jointly embedded within broader health system reforms, can accelerate equitable progress toward UHC in Africa.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa
AU  - Samson Oboche Agbo
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
T2  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
JF  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
JO  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
SP  - 272
EP  - 285
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-756X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
AB  - Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 in Africa remains constrained by fragmented health systems, limited fiscal space, and persistent inequities in access to essential health services. This paper examines how the integration of digital health innovations and financial inclusion mechanisms can address these constraints across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It synthesizes evidence on the deployment of mobile money platforms, electronic health information systems, drone-supported supply systems, blockchain-enabled financing, and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access, efficiency, accountability, and financial protection. Using a comparative qualitative analysis of selected country experiences-Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and South Sudan, the paper identifies barriers to adoption including inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, governance fragmentation, and regulatory gaps. The analysis highlights cross-cutting enablers for successful implementation, notably strong political commitment, primary health care strengthening, interoperable digital architectures, and inclusive financing models that integrate mobile payments, microinsurance, and community-based schemes. Findings demonstrate that digital innovation alone is insufficient to achieve UHC without alignment to institutional readiness, sustainable domestic financing, ethical and regulatory safeguards, and community-driven implementation. The paper concludes with policy and implementation priorities centered on domestic ownership, adaptive regulation, public-private partnerships, and long-term investment in health system capacity. Overall, the study provides an evidence-informed assessment of how digital health and financial inclusion, when jointly embedded within broader health system reforms, can accelerate equitable progress toward UHC in Africa.
VL  - 14
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Samson Oboche Agbo

Sam-Divine Health Vanguard International CIC, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom;Global Fund-ICHESS Technical Assistance Programme, Ministry of Health, Juba, South Sudan

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http://orcid.org/0009-0007-1660-3139

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APA Style

Agbo, S. O. (2025). Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa. International Journal of Business and Economics Research, 14(6), 272-285. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

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ACS Style

Agbo, S. O. Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa. Int. J. Bus. Econ. Res. 2025, 14(6), 272-285. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

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AMA Style

Agbo SO. Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa. Int J Bus Econ Res. 2025;14(6):272-285. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15,
  author = {Samson Oboche Agbo},
  title = {Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa},
  journal = {International Journal of Business and Economics Research},
  volume = {14},
  number = {6},
  pages = {272-285},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijber.20251406.15},
  abstract = {Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 in Africa remains constrained by fragmented health systems, limited fiscal space, and persistent inequities in access to essential health services. This paper examines how the integration of digital health innovations and financial inclusion mechanisms can address these constraints across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It synthesizes evidence on the deployment of mobile money platforms, electronic health information systems, drone-supported supply systems, blockchain-enabled financing, and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access, efficiency, accountability, and financial protection. Using a comparative qualitative analysis of selected country experiences-Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and South Sudan, the paper identifies barriers to adoption including inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, governance fragmentation, and regulatory gaps. The analysis highlights cross-cutting enablers for successful implementation, notably strong political commitment, primary health care strengthening, interoperable digital architectures, and inclusive financing models that integrate mobile payments, microinsurance, and community-based schemes. Findings demonstrate that digital innovation alone is insufficient to achieve UHC without alignment to institutional readiness, sustainable domestic financing, ethical and regulatory safeguards, and community-driven implementation. The paper concludes with policy and implementation priorities centered on domestic ownership, adaptive regulation, public-private partnerships, and long-term investment in health system capacity. Overall, the study provides an evidence-informed assessment of how digital health and financial inclusion, when jointly embedded within broader health system reforms, can accelerate equitable progress toward UHC in Africa.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Perspectives on Digital Health and Financial Inclusion in Africa
AU  - Samson Oboche Agbo
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
T2  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
JF  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
JO  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
SP  - 272
EP  - 285
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-756X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20251406.15
AB  - Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 in Africa remains constrained by fragmented health systems, limited fiscal space, and persistent inequities in access to essential health services. This paper examines how the integration of digital health innovations and financial inclusion mechanisms can address these constraints across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It synthesizes evidence on the deployment of mobile money platforms, electronic health information systems, drone-supported supply systems, blockchain-enabled financing, and artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access, efficiency, accountability, and financial protection. Using a comparative qualitative analysis of selected country experiences-Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and South Sudan, the paper identifies barriers to adoption including inadequate digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, governance fragmentation, and regulatory gaps. The analysis highlights cross-cutting enablers for successful implementation, notably strong political commitment, primary health care strengthening, interoperable digital architectures, and inclusive financing models that integrate mobile payments, microinsurance, and community-based schemes. Findings demonstrate that digital innovation alone is insufficient to achieve UHC without alignment to institutional readiness, sustainable domestic financing, ethical and regulatory safeguards, and community-driven implementation. The paper concludes with policy and implementation priorities centered on domestic ownership, adaptive regulation, public-private partnerships, and long-term investment in health system capacity. Overall, the study provides an evidence-informed assessment of how digital health and financial inclusion, when jointly embedded within broader health system reforms, can accelerate equitable progress toward UHC in Africa.
VL  - 14
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download