By Ayomide Otitoju
In a major boost to Lagos State’s Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) initiative, Interswitch’s Digital Health Platform (DHP) has entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based Patients Know Best (PKB), a global leader in personal health record (PHR) solutions. The collaboration is set to significantly enhance the state’s digital healthcare infrastructure and drive innovation in healthcare delivery.
The partnership will see the integration of PKB’s advanced PHR system with Interswitch’s DHP to establish a robust Health Information Exchange (HIE) framework across Lagos. The system will comply with global Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards, ensuring seamless and secure data interoperability between healthcare providers.
The integration is expected to create a secure, patient-centered digital record system that enables clinicians across the state to access and share health information in real-time. This development is poised to improve care coordination, reduce inefficiencies, and elevate healthcare outcomes for millions of residents.
Speaking on the partnership, Olufemi Olapegba, Managing Director of Digital Health Platforms at Interswitch, said:
“Interswitch’s collaboration with PKB underlines our broader commitment to driving digital transformation across critical sectors in Nigeria, especially healthcare. By leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline health information exchange, we are building an integrated platform that enhances service delivery, improves patient outcomes, and redefines access to healthcare.”
Echoing this sentiment, PKB expressed optimism about the collaboration’s potential to reshape healthcare in Lagos.
“We are excited to partner with Interswitch to introduce a transformative health information system in Lagos,” said a spokesperson for PKB. “Our secure, patient-centric platform empowers individuals with greater control over their health data, while ensuring providers have real-time access to essential medical records. This partnership paves the way for a more efficient, connected, and responsive healthcare ecosystem.”
The platform will allow healthcare professionals to access comprehensive patient records, enabling more informed clinical decision-making and reducing redundancy in care. Patients, meanwhile, will benefit from greater autonomy over their medical information and be better equipped to engage in their health management.
Beyond improving clinical outcomes, the HIE system will streamline workflows and reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers, allowing more time for direct patient care. By integrating healthcare services across public and private facilities, the system will help dismantle existing silos within Lagos’ health sector and build a unified care network.
Additionally, adherence to international healthcare data standards ensures that the platform meets global benchmarks for information security, data governance, and privacy compliance.
This collaboration between Interswitch and PKB marks a pivotal step in Lagos State’s digital health transformation journey. As the state positions itself as a leader in tech-driven healthcare solutions, the initiative sets a new benchmark for health information management in Nigeria and across the continent.
