Lagos digital health records boosts as healthcare gets a major upgrade as Interswitch partners with UK firm Patients Know Best to launch patient-controlled digital health records via the SHIP platform

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a landmark step towards modernising Lagos digital health records, Interswitch, a leading Nigerian technology firm, has partnered with UK-based health tech company Patients Know Best to upgrade the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP).

Also read: WHO pledges support for Lagos healthcare reforms

The collaboration introduces a patient-controlled digital health record system designed to streamline clinical processes, improve outcomes, and foster continuity of care across Lagos State.

At the heart of the partnership is the goal to eliminate long-standing data silos by enabling hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and health insurers to securely access and exchange patient records in real-time.

The enhanced system mirrors integrated health models seen in countries like the UK and Canada.

Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise, Interswitch’s Managing Director for Digital Health Platforms, Mr Olufemi Olapegba, said the initiative marks a strategic shift towards a more agile, technology-powered health sector.

“By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we are building a platform that enhances service delivery, improves patient outcomes, and redefines healthcare access in Nigeria and beyond.”

This initiative will ultimately save lives.

Mr Olapegba explained that the new system would drastically reduce delays in transferring patient information between health facilities—one of the root causes of medical errors and treatment inefficiencies in both public and private hospitals.

He also emphasised the empowerment of patients, who will now have more control over their own health data, including the ability to track, update, and share it directly with providers.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, founder and CEO of Patients Know Best, described the SHIP upgrade as a “game-changer” for Nigerian healthcare.

“Our secure, patient-centric platform empowers individuals while ensuring clinicians have real-time access to critical information,” he said. “It’s a major step forward for trust, transparency, and better outcomes.”

Healthcare professionals have welcomed the digital shift, noting its potential to reduce diagnostic duplication, improve care coordination, and allow hospitals to focus more resources on frontline care.

Dr Funmilayo Adedayo, a public health physician at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said the system would be transformative for chronic disease management.

“Having a full patient history at the point of care helps avoid drug interactions, detects complications early, and ultimately saves lives,” she explained.

The SHIP platform, already in use for appointment scheduling, consultation payments, and medication orders, will now act as a gateway to a fully connected health ecosystem.