Experts prescribe ICT to revolutionise Nigeria’s healthcare system

Experts have emphasised the need to fully adopt Information Communication Technology (ICT) into Nigeria’s healthcare system to improve the quality of life, assist medical practitioners in the delivery of better services, and create wealth for the nation.

This was the submission of two authors, Dr. Solomon Nwaneri, a lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Dr. Chinny Nzekwe-Excel, Department of Business, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom (UK) in their book titled: “Information and Communication Technology in Healthcare.”

Nwaneri, who spoke during the book launch at the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Idi-Araba, at the weekend, said lack of ICT in healthcare had affected the system, as there are inefficiencies in the operation of some hospitals.

The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, said installation of technologies in rural communities, villages and urban areas would improve efficiency of doctors and the quality of healthcare delivery and services.

The U.S. semiconductor industry veteran said technology could achieve 80 per cent of doctors’ output, especially as the ratio of doctors to patients is much, noting that a machine can diagnose about 300 patients in an hour.

The Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Lagos, Dr. Ephraim Nwoye, who reviewed the book, said the 219 pages and 17 chapters book captures telemedicine, artificial intelligence in healthcare, clinical data management, clinical design and decision support systems, software quality and standard, among others.

He urged collaboration with engineers and scientists to assist in developing technology that would help to improve diagnosis and treatment across the country.
  
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development Services, UNILAG, said Nigerians must embrace information technology in all ramifications if the nation must be among the comity of nations that have developed their economies using IT.