Abia State Partners with Interswitch to Digitize Public Healthcare with eClinic Platform
Interswitch, a leading African technology company dedicated to creating solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper, has taken a significant step toward advancing Nigeria’s public-sector health digitization agenda. Through its health-tech subsidiary, Interswitch eClat, the company recently concluded a high-level stakeholder engagement with the Abia State Government, marking the beginning of the phased deployment of the eClinic Electronic Medical Records (EMR) platform across public health facilities in the state.
The engagement, organized by the Abia State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Interswitch, was held at the Ministry’s offices in Umuahia. It brought together senior government officials, health administrators, Interswitch representatives, and key ecosystem stakeholders to align on the project’s scope, implementation framework, and expected outcomes. The initiative underscores a shared commitment to leveraging digital infrastructure to enhance healthcare delivery, operational efficiency, and patient outcomes within Abia’s public health system.
Discussions centered on deploying Interswitch’s eClinic solution in line with Abia State’s broader healthcare reform agenda, particularly the transition from fragmented, paper-based processes to secure, interoperable digital platforms across all public health facilities.
The initial phase will cover six facilities, including three primary healthcare centers, two secondary facilities, and one tertiary hospital. This will create an integrated digital care pathway, improving patient referrals, supporting continuity of care, and enabling data-driven decision-making at all levels. The EMR system is designed to reduce patient waiting times, strengthen referral processes, and ensure the secure handling of both clinical and administrative data. It features a hybrid infrastructure that supports local hosting with cloud-based backup for enhanced data security and accessibility.
Speaking at the engagement, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Abia State, described the initiative as a major milestone in the state’s healthcare transformation journey. He emphasized the importance of private-sector collaboration in achieving sustainable impact. “The Ministry of Health in Abia State is excited about the digitisation of health facilities, starting with Interswitch’s eClinic pilot phase involving three primary, two secondary, and one tertiary health center. 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 maximizes human resources while personalizing 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 stated.
During technical sessions led by Babatunde Fadeyi, Vice President of the Health Ecosystem (Public Sector) at Interswitch, stakeholders were introduced to the core capabilities of the eClinic platform. These include 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 across health facilities.
Participants were also briefed on the platform’s governance framework, risk mitigation strategies, and phased rollout plan. Fadeyi reaffirmed Interswitch’s commitment to delivering tangible 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 digitization 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. Our focus is to ensure the success of this pilot phase and deliver improvements across productivity, service delivery, and patient satisfaction,” he explained.
Dr. Ifeyinwa Blossom Uma-Kalu, Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Health, highlighted the operational and clinical benefits of the initiative. She emphasized how the platform will strengthen referrals, improve revenue management, and expand access to specialist care. “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, and we are eager to see the outcomes of Interswitch’s eClinic,” she said.
The engagement also addressed key success factors such as power stability, user training, change management, and inter-agency collaboration, with both parties emphasizing sustainability and scalability as the project advances.
Officials present included Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, Chief Information Officer of Abia State; Dr. Odochi Azubuike, CEO of the Abia State Hospital Management Board; Engr. Nnanna Chigozie, representing the Honourable Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities; and Chief Medical Directors along with representatives from various public health facilities across the state.
Interswitch’s leadership underscores its ongoing investment in building secure, scalable digital platforms that address complex challenges within regulated public-sector environments. Drawing on its extensive experience across healthcare, payments, and national digital infrastructure, the company’s eClinic solution has already been successfully deployed in federal and state health institutions across Osun, Ogun, Edo, and Enugu States, demonstrating its readiness for wider impact and scale.