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Lagos Targets Full Digitalisation of Public Health Facilities by Late 2026
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to fully digitalise its public healthcare system within the next six to nine months. This is part of an ambitious reform to strengthen service delivery, improve data management, and eliminate inefficiencies across the sector.
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The disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, during the launch of the Data Science and Medical Image Analysis Training for Improved Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria (DATICAN) and a High-Performance Computing Facility at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
SHIP Project Driving Healthcare Digital Transformation
According to Abayomi, the digitalisation drive is being implemented through the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), a comprehensive initiative designed to transform healthcare delivery across Lagos State’s public health institutions.
Prof Abayomi (Lagos Commissioner for Health
“Lagos State has commenced a project called SHIP. This initiative is designed to completely digitalise the public health space—our general hospitals, teaching hospitals, and over 300 primary healthcare centres. We have been working on this for nearly 18 months, and we are currently 50 per cent complete. Within the next six to nine months, the entire public health system will be fully digitalised,” Abayomi stated.
Scope of the Digitalisation Programme
The digital health reform covers more than 300 primary healthcare centres, general hospitals, and teaching hospitals across the state. Key components include:
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR): Replacement of paper-based systems with integrated digital records to improve accuracy, reduce waiting times, and enhance clinical decision-making.
- Real-Time Reporting: Centralised data access to support evidence-based policymaking and efficient hospital management.
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlined workflows to reduce duplication, delays, and administrative bottlenecks.
Data Security and Patient Privacy Assured
Abayomi stressed that while data will play a central role in driving innovation and research, the state government remains committed to safeguarding patient information.
He assured that robust data protection frameworks are being embedded into the system. This will ensure compliance with privacy and security standards as health records transition to digital platforms.
Global Partnerships and Research Integration
The digitalisation initiative is supported by strategic partners, including the World Bank and the IMPACT Project. It is also aligned with advanced research and capacity-building efforts such as DATICAN. The DATICAN focuses on data science and medical imaging to improve healthcare outcomes.
Towards Universal Health Coverage in Lagos
The Lagos State Government describes the initiative as a critical step toward achieving universal health coverage. It will help in improving efficiency in primary healthcare delivery, and building a resilient, technology-driven public health system.
Once completed, the programme is expected to position Lagos as a national leader in digital health transformation. This should set a benchmark for other states in Nigeria.
