Kwara hospitals to abandon paper-based medical records

The Kwara State Government is set to phase out paper-based medical records in state-owned hospitals with the introduction of an electronic medical records system aimed at improving patient care and modernising healthcare delivery.

The initiative, approved by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, will be implemented through the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board under the HOPE-PHC Project, with staff training scheduled to begin in November 2026.

The board’s Press Secretary, Adamu Sabi, disclosed this in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday in Ilorin.

The statement said the initiative would improve administrative efficiency, strengthen patient information management and advance digital transformation across the state’s public healthcare system.

“The rollout builds on an earlier hospital digitalisation pilot involving six hospitals and ongoing efforts to integrate digital solutions into healthcare service delivery,” the statement said.

The electronic medical records system is expected to reduce hospitals’ reliance on paper documentation, improve access to patients’ medical histories, promote continuity of care and support evidence-based decision-making in hospital management.

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The Executive Secretary of the board, Abdulraheem Malik, commended the governor for approving the initiative, describing it as an important milestone in the state’s drive towards a more efficient, accountable and technology-driven public healthcare system.

Malik said, “The adoption of electronic medical records would strengthen hospital operations, improve patient information management and support more efficient clinical encounters across Kwara State.”

The board said the planned rollout would complement its ongoing efforts to strengthen health information management, including the inauguration of its Data Management Committee in August 2026.

As part of preparations for the implementation, healthcare personnel are expected to undergo training beginning in November to equip them with the skills needed to operate the system effectively.

Reaffirming the board’s commitment to the initiative, Malik said it would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and improve the quality of services provided in public hospitals.

He added that the board remained committed to delivering more efficient, responsive and patient-centred healthcare services to residents of the state.