National health management information system: issues of funding and support

Information Technology has made a substantial inroad into Nigerian society, particularly since the late 1980s. It is, however, already being applied in the health sector. The Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), lle-lfe, Nigeria has adopted a systematic approach to the development of a Health Information System (HIS) for a typical specialist hospital. A review of the existing HIS in OAUIHC is presented, highlighting its attributes, problems, and limitations. In addition, the options of funding HIS on a national scale are identified and discussed. Finally, strategies to ensure ongoing support of a national HIS are presented.