Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is set to unveil a new digital health initiative called E-Health on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
This initiative follows the Akufo-Addo administration’s previous innovations, such as the drone medical delivery service, which ensures timely supply of essential medical resources to remote areas, and the E-Pharmacy, an online platform enabling Ghanaians to buy medications conveniently.
The E-Health launch, which Dr. Bawumia has been hinting at for a while, represents a major shift in Ghana’s healthcare system, transitioning from analog to electronic patient record management.
Developed by Lightwave e-Health Solutions in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, this pioneering digital solution is the first of its kind in Africa.
It aims to establish a comprehensive electronic medical record and patient management system, uniquely incorporating the protocols of Ghana’s Disease Surveillance Unit into its digital framework.
Patient records from all teaching, regional, and district hospitals have been digitized as part of the E-Health initiative, creating a network that enables smooth access to patient records nationwide. As a result, patients being transferred between hospitals, regardless of their location, will no longer be required to carry their medical files with them.
READ ALSO: Mamobi NPP-NDC Clash : Man Seen In Video Wielding Weapon Declared Wanted
E-Health contributes to the significant transformation of Ghana’s healthcare system over the past seven years. This includes the provision of ambulances to all constituencies, the drone medical delivery service (which supplies emergency drugs to over 2,000 hospitals), easier access to medications through the E-Pharmacy, and the expansion of public hospitals.
The implementation of this innovative Health Information Management System marks a significant milestone in the history of healthcare in Ghana. According to both the government and the developers, it will grant healthcare professionals real-time access to complete patient records, thereby enhancing decision-making and increasing patient safety.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the driving force behind this initiative, has conveyed his optimism in anticipation of the official launch, highlighting the anticipated positive effects on Ghana’s healthcare system.
“Going forward, medical records and patient histories will be gathered in a single database, accessible by any networked hospital during a patient visit. This digitisation effort has increased efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity in service delivery at our health facilities.
“This is very, very significant. Ghana will be the first country in Africa to implement this, and globally, only three countries have done it,” Dr. Bawumia said a few months ago at a health programme in Tamale.
