By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A reputable financial technology (fintech) company, Interswitch, has been saddled with the responsibility of developing the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform (LAGSHIP) for the Lagos State government.
The pioneering initiative is expected to revolutionise the healthcare industry in Nigeria and enhance residents’ access to healthcare services.
Business Post reports that this innovation will be developed and managed by Interswitch eClat, the healthtech subsidiary of Interswitch.
The Managing Director for Interswitch eClat, Dr Wallace Ogufere, opined that the Lagos State Government’s pioneering initiative in the form of LAGOS-SHIP is significant in terms of advancing the outlook for healthcare management and administration in a frontier market such as Nigeria and moving closer to what obtains in developed economies.
“The go-live of the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform will significantly close any identified gaps in electronic medical records management, essentially addressing long-standing constraints including process inefficiencies, limited transparency and inadequacy of necessary tools and supplies, among other challenges,” he stated.
The founder of Interswitch, Mr Mitchell Elegbe, while commenting on the development, said, “About 22 years ago, we set out with a clear vision to solve social problems in Nigeria, starting by digitizing the use of cash, making it available to Nigerians just-in-time.
“Today, despite the incremental efforts of Interswitch and other players over the years, digital payments are estimated to be still less than 20 per cent of total transactions in the economy.
“This realization suggests that there is tremendous value, financial and otherwise, locked up in sectors and areas where government is a key player, particularly in the aspects of healthcare, transportation, and other basic social services.
“This vision we had from the outset underpinned our acquisition of eClat Healthcare 5 years ago, and initiatives such as Lagos-SHIP are unfolding strategic interventions along that transformational roadmap.
“We are highly delighted that after a rigorous selection process, the Lagos State Government has deemed it fit to partner with us at the Interswitch Group on this epoch-making journey to digitize the healthcare system, uniting disparate elements into one holistic platform that creates value and enhances the experience of all stakeholders, just like we have done in the sphere of financial services, leveraging technology.”
On his part, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said, “The signing of the concession agreement between the Lagos State Government and Interswitch for the implementation of the Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) is a ground-breaking development which signifies the start of a comprehensive technological overhaul in Lagos State’s health sector, aimed at enhancing residents’ access to healthcare services.
“I believe that this platform represents a significant and innovative approach to utilizing technology for accessing health information.
“It is poised to deliver numerous benefits and eliminate payment barriers, thereby encouraging citizens to actively engage with the process.”
