Prof Lawrence ETIM
On Monday, the 8th instant, I had a physical consultation with my medical doctor who prescribed a course of three medications for my condition. I was relieved of my condition but I experienced an adverse reaction to the regimen: after taking the combination, I developed a mild hiccup (singultus). Notably, the hiccup would abate whenever I skipped a dose, meaning either all, some or one of the medications was responsible for the hiccup.
By the fourth day of treatment, the mild but intermittent hiccup had become more than a mere inconvenience – I grew concerned that it might be a harbinger of a more serious adverse effect. So, I sent my doctor a detailed WhatsApp message explaining the reaction.
He promptly replied, instructing me to discontinue one of the medications because it’s the culprit. Since then, I have continued the other two medications without any issue.
In my quick response to his WhatsApp instruction, I had written: “We have just completed a telemedicine consultation. I described my symptoms, and you issued a prescription – all over the phone”. No physical examination, no sample collection, no lab analysis.
I then added an illustrative anecdote, as follows:
“The Monday I visited your office happened to be the same day a person I know very well secured a position with the Top Doctors group in Spain – physical not virtual job. The person studied law in Nigeria, later earned master’s degree in international law from Cyprus, and subsequently obtained an MBA in project management from Spain.”
“With 90,000 registered medical doctors, 275,000 clients, and 3,000 employees across 58 countries, Top Doctors is currently and indisputably the largest private medical company in the world.”
“Approximately 28 years ago, a Spanish couple – both medical doctors – founded the company. They had observed that a significant number of their patients’ medical issues could be resolved efficiently through video or even phone consultations, much like the one we just conducted. That insight led them to establish Top Doctors, and the company expanded rapidly. Today, it operates in nearly every South American country, in the United States, and across most of Asia and Europe – Ireland having launched its branch only this year.”
“Notably but sadly, the company still has no presence in Nigeria or anywhere in Africa. If it did, I would have asked the newly employed person to invite you to register with the platform – a move that could greatly benefit local practitioners and patients alike.
Top Doctors is a telling example of how technology, when paired with foresight, can dismantle geographical barriers in healthcare delivery. More than that, it demonstrates that the core innovation of telemedicine is not merely convenience but the ability to provide timely, targeted interventions – such as identifying a drug intolerance without an office visit – thereby reducing patient risk, saving travel time, and lowering overall system costs”.
Now I want to ask fellow Nigerian netizens: Can a Top Doctors group be replicated in Nigeria?
There is a well‑known story about David Oyedepo, who visited Oral Roberts in the United States. One evening, while strolling around the posh and scenic campus of the Oral Roberts University, Oyedepo heard a voice telling him: “This can be replicated elsewhere.” The next day, Oyedepo took a flight in his private jet home and began building Covenant University – a project he completed in exactly nine months.
That story carries a powerful lesson: visionary replication is possible, even in challenging environments. What Spain’s doctors achieved with foresight, and what Oyedepo achieved with faith and determination, could perhaps be achieved for telemedicine in Nigeria – provided we have the right combination of regulatory support, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurial will. Who’s ready?
Prof. Lawrence Etim is the Emeritus Professor of Fishery Biology and Former Dean, Postgraduates School, University of Uyo.
