The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) alongside other stakeholders in the health sector has called for the digitalisation of the health sector. They also noted that leveraging technology will greatly improve citizens’ access to quality health care.
They further said many grave errors in patient information, drug prescription, and others, can be averted in hospitals and many health care facilities if automated information systems are integrated.
The President of the NMA, Dr Uche Ojinmah made this known yesterday in Abuja during the Digital Health Summit organised by Cranium Integrated Solutions Limited in partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Represented by Dr Daniel Meshak, the NMA President said: “The health system is really weak and it is not meeting the needs of the population. It is not just enough to talk about what the problems are but about the solution. We must think of public-private partnerships to improve the health care sector because it is unrealistic to think that the government alone will be able to address the health care needs of its population.
“Also, in the area of medical records, many countries are using technology, while we are still using paper bills. You find out that when people visit the hospital, they are sometimes told that they can’t find their folders. There is, therefore, a huge potential for technology to improve the healthcare sector in Nigeria.”
The Co-founder of Cranium Integrated Solutions Limited, Kunle Adesida said: “Automated information on decision support systems is very effective in reducing many types of errors. Better information systems improve the dissemination of knowledge about drugs and make drug and patient information readily accessible at the time that it is being needed in real-time.
“Cranium complete health information management system is software that is very robust and secure with respect to patient confidentiality. It has been designed from the scratch with inputs from clinicians and other medical professionals from all over the world and from all specialities.”