Prof. Abayomi, top government functionaries and others at the event

On Thursday, the Lagos State Government, in collaboration with Interswitch Group, convened a forum for stakeholders in the health sector to introduce the Lagos State Health Information Platform (Lagos SHIP). This event represents a significant step forward in the initiative to ensure unrestricted access to healthcare for residents of Lagos State.

This development follows the recent signing of a concession agreement aimed at launching the Lagos SHIP. The platform is a digital healthcare solution designed to enhance healthcare services by utilizing Interswitch’s advanced technological framework.

Its objective is to establish a comprehensive health information system that connects patients with healthcare providers, facilitating a smooth and efficient process for accessing a variety of healthcare services.

Through this platform, residents of Lagos will have the capability to schedule appointments, make payments for consultations, retrieve medical records, and easily purchase medications.

During his keynote address, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, highlighted the transformative impact of data-driven healthcare solutions, asserting that the Lagos SHIP initiative would significantly improve the experiences of all stakeholders in the healthcare sector and provide residents with access to quality healthcare services.

He also underscored the critical role of collaboration in the healthcare domain.

“By embracing the Lagos SHIP, we can streamline healthcare operations, reduce administrative burdens, and make more informed decisions. These improvements translate into cost savings and better resource allocation, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes.

“We are living in a time of rapid transformation in healthcare, driven by advancements in technology and a shift towards more informed and involved patients. The Lagos SHIP initiative, a joint effort by the Lagos State Government and Interswitch Group, is designed to revolutionise healthcare services in the state by connecting patients to doctors, streamlining patient care through electronic medical records, and solving operational challenges,” the Commissioner added.

The Commissioner revealed that the stakeholders and partners involved in the Lagos SHIP comprise the Lagos State Government, eClat Interswitch, healthcare providers and practitioners from both the private and public sectors, health insurers and management organizations (HMOs), policymakers, economic planners responsible for resource allocation, researchers, members of the international community, digital service providers and innovators, as well as residents of Lagos State and medical tourists or users from outside the region.

“The Lagos SHIP which sets sail with the earlier concession agreement signing and this stakeholders’ engagement is in line with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to access to quality, efficient and equitable healthcare delivery service in Lagos and Universal Healthcare Coverage.

“The Lagos SHIP allows us to imagine together into the future, the Speed of patient data migration and connectivity, data mining and trend analysis for policy and research, early warning systems and emergency management, training, virtual clinics, robotics and AI solutions, global hub of virtual connectivity, international collaborations, multiple opportunities for digital innovative solutions, cost efficiencies, regulation and clinical governance,” he said.

Dr. Wallace Ogufere, the Managing Director of Interswitch e’Clat, previously indicated that Interswitch, via its healthcare subsidiary Interswitch e’Clat, is collaborating with the Lagos State Government to enhance health outcomes within the state. As a development partner and advocate for the government's developmental initiatives, Ogufere foresees a future in which the health sector of Lagos State will become a benchmark for other states in Nigeria and potentially for regions across the continent and beyond.

“Through Lagos SHIP, we will support the Lagos State Government in unlocking the potential of electronic medical records, securely leveraging data from public and private hospitals and allied locations. This will facilitate improved experiences for stakeholders across the board, from healthcare administrators to medical professionals and patients,” he noted.

“By leveraging advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, virtual care, wearables, data analytics, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), Lagos SHIP will redefine the way healthcare is delivered, accessed, and experienced,” Ogufere added.

The Lagos SHIP Engagement Forum was convened to promote awareness of SHIP and its advantages, inform stakeholders about its features, garner support and commitment from stakeholders for the adoption of SHIP, and tackle issues concerning data security and privacy within the Lagos healthcare system.

Previously, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, emphasized the transformative capabilities of SHIP, noting its potential to improve healthcare delivery by enhancing data management, optimizing operations, and fostering greater patient engagement.

“The journey to this day began with our determination to establish a unified patient record system, a need made glaringly obvious during the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. With the Lagos SHIP, we are not just launching a digital platform, but we are also laying the foundation for a more resilient and responsive healthcare system,” Ogunyemi stated.

She stated that the Lagos SHIP is designed to tackle significant issues within the health sector by improving the management, analysis, and utilization of health information.

Ogunyemi noted that the platform's sophisticated technology would not only improve data management and patient care but also promote enhanced collaboration among healthcare providers and government entities.

“This platform is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with existing systems, we are poised to improve health outcomes for all residents of Lagos State,” she added.

Contributing to the discussion, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, provided further insights into the platform's emphasis on a patient-centered methodology.

“SHIP is going to allow us to be more patient-focused,” Ogboye remarked.

“We are already patient-focused, but SHIP gives us that extra incentive, that extra step towards individualized care, leading to better outcomes for patients.”

Ogboye articulated the ways in which SHIP will enable healthcare professionals to perform optimally, thereby minimizing errors, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and promoting international collaboration. He emphasized that SHIP will also address the "japa syndrome" by establishing a more supportive environment for healthcare workers, which will improve job satisfaction and foster opportunities for professional growth.

On the patient front, SHIP aims to grant individuals increased access to their health information, empowering them to make informed choices and take charge of their health.

“SHIP will allow a positive, effective, and efficient interaction between the healthcare provider and the patient,” Ogboye stated, underscoring the platform’s potential to transform patient engagement.

Ogboye underscored the pivotal function of SHIP in realizing the state's long-term healthcare goals, which are in accordance with the Governor's THEMES Plus agenda.

He pointed out that SHIP would enable quicker and more effective communication during health emergencies, enhance data analysis capabilities, and improve decision-making processes within the healthcare system.

Olufemi Olapegba, the Managing Director of the Digital Health Platform at Interswitch, offered significant insights regarding the technological framework of the SHIP initiative. He emphasized that the design of the platform positions SHIP as a health information exchange system that effectively links the demand and supply aspects of healthcare.

“SHIP will comply with various regulations and standards, particularly adopting the FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard, which is the globally recognized best practice for exchanging health information,” Olapegba stated. He emphasized that SHIP will expose a variety of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable the secure and efficient sharing of health data across different touchpoints within the healthcare ecosystem.

Olapegba detailed various essential services that SHIP will provide, among which is the Patient Demography Service, designed to uniquely identify and catalog each patient who visits health facilities, “This service allows for seamless tracking of patients as they move across different healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care,” he explained. The platform will also empower patients to own and manage their personal health information.

“Another critical feature of SHIP is the Summary Care Records API, which facilitates the exchange of clinical data, ensuring that vital details required for continuous care are easily accessible to healthcare providers.

“Additionally, the platform will offer an e-Prescription service, enabling patients to receive prescription services beyond the confines of the health facilities they visit.

“For example, a patient could visit a hospital in Ikoyi and pick up their medication in Epe if it’s not available at the original location,” Olapegba noted.

The introduction of Lagos SHIP highlights Interswitch's dedication to fostering positive change and improving healthcare services throughout Lagos State and beyond.

Both Interswitch and the Lagos State Government believe that Lagos SHIP will act as a driving force for significant transformation in the healthcare industry, ultimately benefiting the health and well-being of millions of residents.