Lagos showcases health-tech solutions to transform healthcare delivery
Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming healthcare delivery through digital innovation with the maiden Lagos Digital Health Innovation Challenge, where health-tech innovators showcased cutting-edge solutions aimed at improving access, efficiency and quality of healthcare across the state.
Speaking at the event in Ikeja, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for innovators to develop practical solutions to healthcare challenges. He praised the ingenuity of the participants, noting that every application presented demonstrated strong potential to improve healthcare delivery in Lagos.
Abayomi said the innovations, covering emergency care, health insurance, sickle cell disease management, neonatal survival, medication adherence and post-hospital care, align with the strategic priorities of the state government. He stressed that government’s role is to provide the right environment for innovation, allowing creative minds to develop practical solutions to real-life healthcare challenges.
The Commissioner recalled how Lagos pioneered home-based management of COVID-19 patients when isolation facilities became overwhelmed during the pandemic, describing it as an early demonstration of how digital technology can extend healthcare beyond hospital walls.
Abayomi also revealed that the Lagos State Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), the state’s flagship digital health initiative, has reached about 30 per cent completion in its first phase across public health institutions and will later be extended to the private sector.
According to him, SHIP will harmonise health records, improve healthcare planning, strengthen artificial intelligence applications and support predictive healthcare while maintaining robust cybersecurity and data protection standards.
He explained that the Digital Health Innovation Challenge was designed to encourage the development of interoperable solutions capable of integrating with SHIP. He added that the state would continue investing in preventive healthcare, digital transformation and public-private partnerships to strengthen the healthcare system.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Dayo Lajide, described the challenge as a strategic platform bringing together innovators, healthcare professionals, investors, technology experts and policymakers to develop practical digital solutions. She urged participants to embrace feedback, refine their innovations and continue developing them beyond the competition, assuring all contestants of continued mentorship and technical support.
