ICT deployment Act seen transforming healthcare system in Nigeria
A policy framework to deploy information communication technology (ICT) backed by an act of the national assembly will improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria, experts have said.
This is because dearth of information and communication technology (ICT) is slowing down service delivery, making Nigeria’s healthcare system lose out on advanced medical technologies with grave consequences for the cost of health care.
Lack of ICT is a huge infrastructural gap in the sector which remains a major factor limiting the growth and development of the Nigerian healthcare system.
The World Health Assembly in 2005 recognised the potential of e-services in healthcare delivery to strengthen health systems and improve quality, safety and access, and encouraged member states to take action to incorporate e-health into health systems and services.
Experts say more investment in ICT will improve the healthcare sector and will also boost the accuracy of data gathering for implementation of strategic and important programme by the government.
“ICT will help Nigeria’s healthcare system reduce the challenges of limited data, and information collected which demography, financial and medical history will be analysed. We need a robust information and communication technology and it is very essential we get it right” Jide Idris, commissioner for health, Lagos State, said.
An analyst says introduction of different software and applications will enhance information dissemination to the patient within a short period of time.
“ICT is playing a major role in all sectors and there is need for the healthcare sector in Nigeria to tap into it for easier diagnosis, treatment, logistics and accessibility,” the analyst added.
According to the analyst, ICT would help the healthcare sector address universal health coverage challenges and reduce manual work.
“With the development of different software and applications by different IT companies and gurus, telemedicine now plays a major role in diagnosis and treatment of a patient in the comfort of his home”, the analyst said.
We can learn from the United States of America where the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was signed into law on February 17, 2009 with the prime objectives to create a common platform for health information exchange through accessibility to accurate information on health care costs, quality, and outcomes.
Develop interoperability specifications that identify harmonised standards and provide detailed technical specifications.
According to Ladi Awosika, chairman, Board of trustees, Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria under the umbrella of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) say the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has so far been unable to implement an ICT infrastructure, which would ease the operation and effectiveness of the scheme.
“HMOs suggest the implementation of a very robust software and information and communications technology (ICT) platform by the NHIS, and also want to put it on record that we the HMOs volunteer the deduction of 5 per cent of administrative fee for this purpose because we are aware the scheme can only run efficiently with information technology.
“The ICT platform will help the NHIS to generate data’s. The software will also help to monitor HMOs solely on private sector scheme. Until that ICT platform is established we are going nowhere,” added Awosika.
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