The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, has expressed concern over Ghana’s ongoing digital health disruptions, warning that the return to manual record-keeping in hospitals could lead to delays in treatment and potential loss of lives.
Speaking on the AM Show, Kabiru said the current situation is undermining the efficiency gains made through digital health systems over the past decade.
According to him, storing patient information manually makes it harder for doctors and nurses to access the data they need for diagnosis and treatment.
He noted that such delays can be dangerous in emergencies.
“Once data is stored manually and physical files are kept at a registry, it becomes difficult to trace patient records,” he said. “These unnecessary delays can sometimes cause unnecessary loss of lives.”
Kabiru further explained that digital systems were initially adopted to solve these very challenges by making patient records accessible in real-time and improving coordination among medical staff.
However, the recent disruption of the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) has forced some health facilities to revert to manual and semi-digital procedures.
The setback stems from ongoing financial disagreements between the Ministry of Health and Lightwave eHealthcare Solutions Limited, the private company that has operated the LHIMS platform for more than ten years.
Despite its central role in managing digital patient records and processing insurance claims nationwide, the company has reportedly not been paid for months, leaving its operations unstable.
Kabiru also pointed out that some service providers are now struggling to maintain old or outdated digital infrastructure.
“We have situations where equipment and software have become obsolete due to a lack of investment,” he said.
“Once that happens, health facilities cannot keep up with the times or maintain consistent service.”
The Ghana Health Service and the National Health Insurance Authority have yet to announce a long-term solution to the disruptions, though interim measures are being implemented.
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