By Obiabin Onukwugha
In a bid to adequately address the health needs of its citizenry, the Rivers State Government through the State Ministry of Health has launched a digitised healthcare system.
The two innovative digital services known as Rivers State Health Regulatory System (RIVHEALTH-REG) and the Hospital Management Information System (Riv-MEDIXTRAK) are geared towards attaining Universal Health Coverage in the state.
Speaking at the launch at the Ministry of Health in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, said the program aligns with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s healthcare policy for the state.
She said: “I am honoured today to officially launch an important milestone in our journey towards implementing the mandate of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to significantly enhance healthcare delivery and experience for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Rivers State.
Oreh also lexplained that the services have been tested in select facilities in the state and are now set for scale up.
“Today, we introduce to the citizens home and abroad, two innovative digital services that speak to 2 of the 7 pillars of the Health4All Rivers Strategy; Health Information Systems/Data Management and Health Systems Leadership and Governance which set the stage for transformative changes informed by evidence, and responsible and responsive leadership to greatly improve the standards and quality of health care every citizen consumes from every legitimate provider of healthcare services anywhere across our dear State.
“We had piloted the use of this technology in select healthcare facilities and are now ready to gradually scale up to maximize the benefits of deploying technology to improve clinical management, population health planning and regulation, ultimately translating to better service delivery in the health sector across the state”, she stated.
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Explaining further, the commissioner revealed that RIVHEALTH-REG is a macro-level governance tool for regulation of standards of care across healthcare facilities in the State.
“RIVHEALTH-REG introduces technology
and automation to the health care facilities’ registration process stewarded by the Rivers State Ministry of Health and will greatly enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability in the process of oversight over providers of healthcare services to Rivers people in Rivers State.
“Key features of this service which will now enable proprietors of health facilities fulfil statutory responsibilities remotely include regulation, monitoring and compliance with established guidelines and standards, licensing, verification and authentication of healthcare providers, and improved communication channels,” she continued.
On the Hospitals Management Information Systems (Riv-MEDIXTRAK), Oreh stated that the service which is for both private and public hospitals in the state would manage the hospital’s service delivery and administration systems.
She also emphasized that the digital services would entrench greater accountability among public and private providers of health services
“Riv-Medixtrak is a customised digital system that manages hospital service delivery functions and entire administration systems. Key benefits include; digital patient and case management record keeping for improved patient care and reduced errors, operational efficiency by automation of routine functions and resource management for improved outputs and planning.
“The services launched today are very important governance tools with which this administration, as steward of the health and wellbeing of people living in Rivers State, will entrench greater and more effective
accountability among public and private providers of health services at all levels and catalysei the strengthening of a resilient and responsive health care delivery system for all in Rivers State,” Oreh stated.
She thanked stakeholders who have contributed to making the vision a reality, adding that they represent the state government’s commitment to providing Rivers citizens with the best healthcare possible, urging people of the state to embrace the new innovations.
