eClinic Breakthrough Eases Strain on Nigeria’s Failing Hospitals

eClinic Breakthrough Eases Strain on Nigeria’s Failing Hospitals

eClinic is rewriting the story of hospital care in Nigeria—and not a moment too soon.

In many parts of the country, hospitals battle with paper records, outdated systems, and poor coordination. Patients often wait hours or even days just to find missing files. Health workers struggle with mountains of paperwork, which slows down treatment and leads to errors. But now, a new digital solution is helping hospitals overcome these deep-rooted problems.

At the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu, a quiet but powerful transformation has taken place. This hospital recently adopted Interswitch’s eClinic, a smart electronic medical records (EMR) platform. The move, led by the Federal Ministry of Health and backed by Interswitch’s health-tech arm, eClat, shows how public-private partnerships can change lives.

The solution wasn’t just installed—it was tailor-made. From the beginning, hospital staff helped shape how eClinic would work in their daily routines. Nurses, doctors, and admin staff gave feedback on what they needed. From those inputs, Interswitch built a flexible, easy-to-use system that works both online and offline. This means that even if there’s no internet, hospital records stay safe and accessible.

The federal government sees eClinic as a critical piece in its broader plan to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system. Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, who commissioned the launch in Enugu, praised the tool. He said that digital systems like eClinic are vital for improving healthcare quality. According to him, eClinic helps hospitals deliver better, faster, and more accurate services to patients.

“Interswitch’s collaboration with key stakeholders, including government institutions, reflects our dedication to drive digital transformation across critical sectors such as healthcare. With eClinic, our EMR solution, we are empowering healthcare professionals to work more efficiently and deliver improved outcomes for patients across the country,” said Babatunde Fadeyi, Vice President of Health Ecosystem (Public Sector) at Interswitch.

He explained that Interswitch worked closely with each hospital before launching the system. They carried out needs assessments, tested the user interface, and trained staff. This hands-on approach made sure that eClinic wasn’t just a top-down decision, but a working solution created with the people who would use it every day.

For patients, the benefits are clear. Records are now digital and stored securely. This means no more lost files, no more repeat tests, and no more delays in treatment because someone can’t find the right paperwork. Doctors can now view patient history in seconds, make quicker decisions, and follow up more accurately. The platform also supports hospital functions like pharmacy management, diagnostics tracking, patient registration, and reporting.

These upgrades matter most for ordinary Nigerians who often suffer from overcrowded, under-resourced health centres. A patient in Enugu, whose leg had been broken in an accident, shared his relief at how fast he got help. “Before, it would take them hours to find my file. But this time, they had everything on the computer. I was seen quickly,” he said.

Nigeria’s healthcare system has long needed solutions like this. While many private hospitals have started using digital systems, public hospitals lag behind. That gap has hurt millions of low-income families who depend on government hospitals for their medical needs. With eClinic, that gap could start to close.

Already, Interswitch has launched the platform in four federal health institutions—in Osun, Ogun, Edo, and now Enugu. The company plans to expand eClinic to more federal and state hospitals across the country. Future updates will even include AI-powered diagnostics, health insurance integration, and supply chain tracking to help hospitals get medicine and equipment faster.

eClinic is more than just a software—it’s a fresh approach. It removes barriers between health workers and their patients. It gives hospitals the data they need to plan better and respond faster. And most of all, it restores dignity and confidence to patients who just want to feel better without chaos or confusion.

“Interswitch is helping to shape a smarter, more inclusive healthcare future for Nigeria,” said a senior nurse at the Enugu hospital. “This system doesn’t just make our work easier—it saves lives.”

The company has shown that homegrown technology can solve some of Nigeria’s toughest problems. Instead of importing foreign software that doesn’t fit the local environment, Interswitch built eClinic from scratch, using feedback from real hospitals in Nigeria.

Unlike some foreign systems, eClinic can run without electricity or internet. That’s a game-changer in parts of Nigeria where infrastructure is unreliable. Interswitch’s development team made sure the system could store and sync data safely. Once internet or power returns, everything updates automatically. This feature helps hospitals run smoothly, even in difficult conditions.

With more hospitals now interested, the impact of eClinic may soon reach every corner of Nigeria. And as the government embraces more digital solutions, Nigerians may finally get the healthcare they deserve—modern, efficient, and human-centered.

For families who’ve suffered under the old system, this digital turnaround offers hope. Hope that when they walk into a hospital, they’ll be treated with speed, care, and respect. Hope that their health records won’t get lost. Hope that help will arrive when it’s needed most.

Interswitch’s journey is far from over, but one thing is clear—eClinic is a bold step toward fixing Nigeria’s fragile health system.