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The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming healthcare delivery through technology, as it kicked off a two-day Progress Review Workshop on the Lagos Primary Health Care (PHC) Digitization Project today 22nd May, 2025 at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA.

Organized by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) with support from the Gates Foundation, the workshop brought together key stakeholders to evaluate the deployment of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in digital-enabled PHC facilities, particularly in 100 Primary Health Care facilities, to ensure improved care quality and operations and chart a roadmap for full-scale implementation across all 326 PHCs in the state.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, emphasized that the digitization of PHCs is not just about innovation, but about building a smarter, more sustainable health system that delivers better care to Lagosians. “Today, we are defining the future of equitable and accessible healthcare for over 20 million residents of Lagos State. This is our opportunity to lead a digital revolution starting from the primary care level,” she said.

Dr. Ogunyemi who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi stressed that the state’s Digital-Enabled PHC Project is designed to support continuity of care, reduce duplication, and enhance data-driven public health interventions. “EHRs improve diagnosis, track patient outcomes, support referrals, and strengthen our capacity for real-time surveillance. But they must be sustained by robust systems and long-term financing strategies,” she added.

Outlining key policy priorities, the Special Adviser disclosed the state’s plan to institutionalize EHR financing through a dedicated digital health budget line, explore innovative public-private partnerships, and integrate EMRs with the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme. “We are working to ensure EMRs are no longer donor-dependent pilots but co-financed, locally-owned solutions embedded in our health system reform strategy,” she affirmed.

Addressing sustainability concerns, Dr. Ogunyemi highlighted challenges such as fragmented systems, infrastructure limitations, financial constraints, and the need for human resource capacity. “Technology alone is not enough; adoption depends on people. That is why we have launched the Digital Health Champions Program to equip our providers with the skills and tools to transition seamlessly,” she noted.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, described the workshop as a strategic checkpoint to consolidate the state’s digital health gains and recalibrate for scale-up. “This is more than a review. It is a moment of strategic reflection and alignment toward a shared digital health future,” he said.

Dr. Mustafa applauded the successful deployment of the EMR platform across 100 PHCs, describing the impact as transformative. “We are seeing improved coordination, efficiency, and data integrity at the point of care. Our goal now is to institutionalize these gains and expand them across all 326 PHC facilities in Lagos,” he stated.

He emphasized the need to address real-world implementation challenges such as power supply, connectivity, and workforce readiness, adding that discussions during the workshop would shape the next phase of rollout. “We must ask: What have we learned? What must we improve? What should not repeat in the next phase?” he said.

Dr. Mustafa also unveiled the state’s plan to operationalize the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), a centralized system that will synchronize patient data across PHC, secondary, and tertiary facilities. “We’re building a future where patient data follows the individual, not the location. This is the future of healthcare, and Lagos is ready to lead,” he concluded.

Also speaking at the event, The Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. David Odunmbaku, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to smart governance through the implementation of a Local Electronic Medical Records (LEMR) system across Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the area.

He described the LEMR as a transformative step in modernizing healthcare delivery. “The manual system is outdated and inefficient. With the EMR, patient information becomes readily available at the touch of a button, facilitating faster and more accurate care,” Odunmbaku said. He disclosed that the pilot phase at Ogba PHC has already commenced, supported by trained IT staff, upgraded hardware, patient medical cards, and fiber-optic internet connectivity.

Medical Director of Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Dr. Olumide Sojirin emphasized that EMR is now an indispensable global healthcare tool. He highlighted how electronic records improve service delivery by enhancing data accuracy, protecting patient confidentiality, and enabling real-time information sharing among healthcare providers.

“EMR makes work easier for both doctors and patients, allowing for quick decision-making, efficient service delivery, and more informed care,” he noted. Dr. Sojirin also pointed out that EMR supports analysis of disease patterns and fosters secure access to patient information based on professional roles, ensuring confidentiality and accountability.

Delivering a technical presentation, the Digital Health Officer for the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Tayo Owolabi, outlined the objectives of the Phase II EMR project. According to him, the project aims to optimize the use of the Talamus EMR platform, strengthen data use in governance, and generate evidence to support statewide scale-up.

He noted that the expected outcomes include improved PHC operations through digitized workflows, data-driven decision-making, and a strategic roadmap for expanding digitization across additional PHCs in Lagos State. Dr. Owolabi underscored that these efforts align with the state’s broader digital health transformation goals to improve operational efficiency and healthcare outcomes.

The highpoint of the workshop was the visit, official commissioning and on-site review of systems functionalities of EMR at the Coker Aguda Primary Health Centre, one of the facilities under of the Lagos State PHC Digitization Programme. Speaking during the visit, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Coker-Aguda LCDA, Dr. Duyile Akintomide praised the positive impact of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) on service delivery at the facility. Dr. Akintomide noted that EMR has significantly reduced patients’ waiting time and improved the quality of care across service points.

“Patients now complete their visits within 15 to 20 minutes, from reception to treatment. The digital system enables seamless access to services like family planning, where booking and consultation are now faster and better organized,” he said.

He highlighted that the digital system has also strengthened data collection and planning, allowing the facility to better prepare for daily patient turnout. According to him, Coker Aguda PHC has achieved full end-to-end digitalization, while efforts are ongoing to extend this to the second major facility in the LCDA, Orile Iganmu PHC. While acknowledging initial challenges such as staff adaptation to the new system, Dr. Akintomide commended the impact of continuous training and community sensitization. “Our staff are now more comfortable with the EMR, and we’re educating the community on the benefits of this technology, especially in booking appointments and accessing care efficiently,” he concluded.

The Progress Review Workshop continues tomorrow with breakout sessions, and technical strategy meetings aimed at ensuring the sustainability and scalability of Lagos’ digital health infrastructure.

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