Exploring the Adoption of Electronic Medical Records in Primary Health Care Centres in Calabar Municipality: The Challenges and Prospects of E-Governance

Abstract

A key aspect of good governance is efficient and effective service delivery through public administration. Today, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is making in-roads into various sectors like education, commerce, agriculture and even in governance. Despite many achievements, very little has been done towards entrenching e-governance in healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Consequently, many stakeholders have recognised the potential of ICT to improve healthcare, especially the in use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Using the qualitative research method, this study examined the extent of adoption of EMRs in primary healthcare centres in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria, in addition to identifying the challenges of adoption. A review of relevant literature revealed a myriad of benefits associated with EMR adoption. Some of these include efficiency, accuracy and quality of data, patient safety, quality healthcare, and improved accessibility to patient data. The findings of the study revealed that EMR adoption in primary healthcare centres in Calabar Municipality is significantly low. A review of several health ICT initiatives in Nigeria shows that only a few of these initiatives implemented in Cross River State are EMR-related. The study further identified a number of challenges responsible for the low adoption of EMRs in the Calabar Metropolis, including poor implementation of ICT initiatives, epileptic power supply, high cost of ICT equipment, funding constraints, resistance to technology, low technical expertise, and so on. The study recommends that government should be committed to developing and funding EMR systems, the paper-based system should be phased out gradually, basic training and skills building on ICT should be consistent, financial and non-financial incentives for ICT usage should also be initiated, .and the local governments and local community actors should play a significant role in primary health care development.