Experts advocate digital health reform

Some health experts on Tuesday advocated digital health reform, saying it would eliminate wasteful spending on repeated medical tests and improve patient care. The experts made the call in separate interviews with the Newsmen in Abuja.

They urged the Federal Government to establish a national digital health data system as Nigeria’s lack of an interoperable health record system delayed treatment and increased costs for patients.

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Dr Richardson Ajayi, a leading healthcare entrepreneur, said the failure to integrate medical records across hospitals has left patients struggling with unnecessary expenses and inefficiencies.

“Nigeria’s healthcare system needs urgent digital transformation. No patient should have to redo tests simply because hospitals cannot share records,” Ajayi said.

He emphasised that digital integration, similar to what exists in the banking sector, could reduce inefficiencies and improve healthcare delivery.

Dr Patrick Okonkwo, a consultant physician, noted that the lack of a standardised health data system often leads to medical errors and treatment delays.

“Doctors need access to complete medical histories to make accurate diagnoses. Without a unified system, this remains a challenge,” Okonkwo said.

Dr Tayo Yusufu, a health informatics specialist, stressed that Nigeria’s fragmented health data system was a major obstacle to effective healthcare delivery.

Yusufu noted that interoperable digital health records would not only reduce costs for patients but also improve epidemic surveillance and health research.

“A national digital health system is not just about convenience, it is critical for public health. During disease outbreaks, a well-integrated system would allow authorities to track cases more efficiently and respond swiftly,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to work closely with private sector technology firms to develop a secure, scalable health data network, ensuring that patient information remains confidential while being accessible across hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.

Meanwhile, some experts were calling on the government to accelerate discussions on national health data standardisation to enhance patient care and lower costs.

NAN/Wumi