The failure of the National Digital Health Records System is causing delays and frustration at government hospitals across the Ashanti Region.
These has forced records officers to return to the manual pen-and-paper methods.
A visit to multiple facilities revealed that medical staff have been compelled to dust off old patient folders, a process that has drastically slowed service.
The Lightwave Health Information Management System, which is an electronic platform, introduced by the Ministry of Health to improve healthcare delivery by digitizing patient records, ensuring easy data access, and enhancing coordination among healthcare providers is down.
At the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ejisu Government Hospital, and Suntreso Government Gospital, the electronic systems designed to streamline care, has been inoperative for weeks.
The situation, according to patients, is affecting turnaround time.
Frustrated patients complained of sitting at the Outpatient Department (OPD) for hours without being attended to.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Health to fix this immediately. This slow, manual system is a step backward and is hurting people who need care,” Emmanuel Osei, a patient appealed.
His sentiment was echoed by almost all those who visited the Suntreso Government Hospital on Monday, October 27.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the root cause is financial. The government, through the Ministry of Health is said to have repeatedly failed to honor its payment obligations to the system’s operators, leading to these disruptive interruptions.
While most hospitals are struggling, the Manhyia District Hospital appears to be a notable exception. Management there has implemented an alternative system, allowing them to operate with significantly less pressure.
The Ministry has however assured of resolving the issue by the close of the week.
