An Approach to the Implementation of an Integrated Computerized Medical System in Nigeria

Abstract

Improvements in Information and Communications Technologies have driven innovations in computerized medical
systems world-wide. Developed economies are quickly abandoning the paper-based medical record keeping and management
systems for a more digitized approach. Nigeria and other developing countries, whose bulk populations reside in highly
inaccessible rural areas, would also like to follow this trend. However, there are numerous and persisting obstacles and
challenges that militate against such intentions. In this paper we discuss the issues associated with moving to a computerized
medical system in the highly decentralized Nigerian medical sector and propose a workable three-tier integrated computerized
medical system architecture which can re-integrate the rural health care centers to provide specialized care.