Interswitch to Revolutionise Public Healthcare in Abia State with eClinic EMR Deployment
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
Interswitch, a leading African technology company, has taken a major step in advancing Nigeria’s public-sector health digitisation agenda through its health-tech subsidiary, Interswitch eClat, following a high-level engagement with the Abia State Government. The engagement, held at the Ministry of Health in Umuahia, preceded the phased deployment of eClinic, Interswitch eClat’s Electronic Medical Records (EMR) platform, across public health facilities in the state.
The session brought together senior government officials, health administrators, Interswitch representatives, and key ecosystem stakeholders to align on the scope, implementation framework, and expected outcomes of the proposed eClinic deployment. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to leveraging digital infrastructure to improve healthcare delivery, operational efficiency, and patient outcomes across Abia State’s public health system.
Discussions focused on deploying the eClinic solution in line with Abia State’s broader healthcare reform agenda, particularly the transition from fragmented, paper-based systems to secure, interoperable digital platforms.
The initial phase will span six public health facilities, including three primary healthcare centres, two secondary hospitals, and one tertiary hospital. The deployment is designed to create an end-to-end digital care pathway, strengthen patient referrals, support continuity of care, and enable data-driven decision-making across all levels of service delivery. The EMR platform aims to reduce patient waiting times, streamline referrals, and ensure the secure handling of clinical and administrative data, supported by a hybrid infrastructure combining local hosting with cloud-based backup.
Speaking at the engagement, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, Honourable Commissioner for Health, Abia State, described the initiative as a major milestone in the state’s healthcare transformation journey:
“The Ministry of Health in Abia State is excited about the digitisation of health facilities, starting with Interswitch’s eClinic pilot phase. This initiative will enhance efficiency, accountability, and patient care by linking records across different levels of care. Global evidence shows that digital health improves access, reduces the cost of care, and maximises human resources while personalising services for our people. This partnership with Interswitch represents a key deliverable for this administration and aligns with the Governor’s vision for a modern, technology-driven health system,” he said.
During technical sessions led by Babatunde Fadeyi, Vice President, Health Ecosystem (Public Sector), Interswitch, stakeholders were briefed on the core capabilities of the eClinic platform, including secure patient record management, ICD-11–compliant diagnosis coding, controlled data update protocols, and integrated billing and reporting tools designed to improve efficiency and accountability.
Fadeyi reaffirmed Interswitch’s commitment to delivering measurable impact through technology-enabled healthcare systems:
“Abia State has demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation and system reform. The alignment of the state’s healthcare priorities with national health digitisation objectives creates a solid foundation for meaningful progress. Interswitch’s eClinic platform is designed to improve hospital operations by automating workflows, securing patient data, and providing healthcare managers with reliable insights to guide decisions. Beyond improving patient experience, it supports stronger revenue tracking, operational efficiency, and accountability.”
Also speaking at the engagement, Dr. Ifeyinwa Blossom Uma-Kalu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, highlighted the platform’s operational and clinical value:
“This digitisation initiative will help us track our finances and internally generated revenue more accurately while reducing leakages. More importantly, it strengthens our referral system by allowing patient records to move seamlessly from primary to secondary and tertiary care. With a digital framework, healthcare workers in remote communities can access specialist support through telemedicine, helping to save lives and improve outcomes. This is a critical tool in our efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality.”
The engagement addressed key success factors for the project, including power stability, user training, change management, and inter-agency collaboration, with both parties emphasising sustainability and scalability.
Also in attendance were Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, Chief Information Officer, Abia State; Dr. Odochi Azubuike, CEO of the Abia State Hospital Management Board; Engr. Nnanna Chigozie, representing the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities; Chief Medical Directors; and representatives from public health facilities across the state.
Interswitch’s leadership in the initiative underscores its continued investment in secure, scalable digital platforms that address complex service-delivery and accountability challenges within regulated public-sector environments. The eClinic solution has already been successfully deployed across federal and state health institutions in Osun, Ogun, Edo, and Enugu States, demonstrating readiness for scale and impact.
