Dr. Kaddas
DR. SA’ID ABUBAKAR KADDAS is the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi. In this interview, Dr. Kaddas speaks on e-Health, its benefits in the delivery of health care services and the roles it can play in the fight against epidemic and communicable diseases, including Ebola, Tuberculosis and Coronavirus (COVID-19), among other things. He spoke our Correspondent, ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, in Bauchi.
What is your take on the debate over the benefits and roles of e-Health in medical practice, especially in relation to Nigeria?
Thank you for seeking my views on this subject-matter. What I can tell you is that e-Health, globally, is the way to go regarding health care service delivery. Most advanced worlds are now on e-Health and even in our own country, many centers have started thinking along that line. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, is also on the train because we’ve started putting some machineries in place so that we can go on e-Health.
So, you also share the view that e-Health is the way to go ultimately in the emerging world?
Absolutely, I believe e-Health is the way to go because we know that with e-Health, you will be able to manage data regarding health care services in any organization, especially health care delivery centers. At any point in time, it’s about sharing information, like one point stop health care service delivery method where all the health care workers need to understand what it takes to go e-Health.
What would you say are some of the benefits of e-Health and how beneficial is this to both the health workers and the people that need health care?
When you have that, even the service providers, apart from the fact that everybody is going to be computer literate, it has a lot of advantages. E-Health covers virtually everything. It is not just about information regarding the patients, it’s also talking about other issues and related matters – very important ones regarding hospital finances, especially critical care management of patients. When you have that tool, you’ll know that every patient is formally admitted into the hospital care system and there will be no shortcuts. Payments will be made properly and since whoever is the role player, at any point in time, there’s a need to assess or investigate whatever it is and whoever it is that is responsible can always be identified without data missing folders and whatever it is.
And to me, it reduces hospital waiting time. It also makes sure that there is proper documentation of patient information regarding their needs and regarding whatever it is that they have. Ultimately, when patients come for follow up, at any point in time, necessary information regarding health care is made readily available. The issue of missing folders and all those things will be a thing of the past.
I think it is something that should be encouraged and most health care systems in our days are thinking in that line.
What special role(s) do you think e-Health can play in fighting such epidemic and communicable diseases as COVID-19, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Measles, HIV/AIDS, Cholera, Dysentery, Rabies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
You see, it is very important regarding information research system especially epidemics. We have seen a lot of them in recent times, especially regarding COVID. We also know that there are other notifiable diseases like cholera, polio and the rest of them, which are some of the health care challenges and epidemics that matter a lot. I believe that with proper e-Health, one will have a documented data and with this, researches can be conducted and we know that with researches, we will be able to come about with the best way to treat some of these diseases. It also gives chances for easier collaboration, especially when you have to relate information across the world, e-Health will do that without waste of time. So, I think it is of benefit to the patient, the community we serve and the health care workers in general.
What is the cost of implementing e-Health in Nigeria and is the cost affordable?
Well, the cost is one thing, but I believe that as a country, by implementing the proposal for health, if that is properly implemented in this country, I am sure that e-Health can be done in Nigeria despite the fact that it requires some money. I also think it is the commitment on the side of the government.
Does Nigeria have the right infrastructure necessary for implementation of e-Health?
I think manpower is of benefit. We have serious manpower challenges as far as our country is concerned,especially the issue of brain drain and the rest. But in terms of other infrastructures, it’s about putting in finances, about budgeting appropriately, getting the gadgets that are necessary for the implementation. With the right budgeting and financing, health care budget is something that can be achieved in our country.
Is e-Health already being implemented or practiced in your State/hospital?
In Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, yes, we started it a long time ago; It’s only that we have been having hitches here and there. As I am speaking to you now, the National Health Insurance Clinic are in our own hospital; the Amenity Retainership Clinic as well as the Trauma Center are ready to start on e-Health.
We are collaborating with the University because we have a very good cordial relationship with them, just as the one we have with the state. We are developing a software for e-Health, which, at the end of the day, the one that is on ground now can also key in to the overall one that we are developing. We are working very closely with the university’s technical people that will come up and we’ve reached an advanced stage.
So, generally, what would you say is the future of e-Health in Nigeria?
Well, e-Health is something that is the way to go in terms of health care practice. However, we know it is capital intensive, but with the appropriate budgetary system and of course, financing, its innermost advantages are worth going for e-Health.