Building Secure Data Management Infrastructures for Nigerian Healthcare to Address Patient Privacy, Interoperability Gaps, and Record Fragmentation
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Authors
Ibitoye, Oluwatoyin
Issue Date
2025-12
Type
Article
Language
en
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Abstract
The rapid expansion of digital health systems in Nigeria has exposed significant weaknesses in data governance, patient privacy protection, and
clinical information management. As hospitals, laboratories, and primary care facilities increasingly adopt electronic health systems, the lack of secure, standardized, and interoperable data infrastructures has resulted in fragmented patient records, inconsistent data quality, and persistent vulnerabilities to unauthorized access. At a broader level, these challenges threaten national healthcare modernization ef orts, impede continuity of care, and
undermine the ef ectiveness of data-driven decision-making across public health programs. Global trends emphasize the need for secure data architectures that integrate robust cybersecurity, identity management, and interoperable health information exchange frameworks. Within the Nigerian context, the absence of unified data standards, insuf icient investment in secure infrastructure, and limited regulatory enforcement heighten the risks associated with siloed medical records and manual data handling practices. As health facilities attempt to scale digital services, inadequate data protection mechanisms leave patient information exposed to breaches, tampering, and unauthorized third-party use. Addressing these systemic issues requires the development of a secure, enterprise-grade data management infrastructure that integrates encryption, access controls, standardized interoperability protocols, and resilient cloud-edge architectures designed for low-resource environments. This study proposes a comprehensive framework that prioritizes multi-layer security, national interoperability standards, and unified patient identity systems to support sustainable digital health transformation. It further outlines how Nigeria can adapt international best practices to local realities such as bandwidth limitations, fragmented provider networks, and varying levels of digital maturity to create a secure, seamless, and trustworthy healthcare data ecosystem. The recommendations aim to strengthen privacy assurance, improve clinical data flow, and enhance overall health system performance
Description
Citation
Ibitoye, O. (2025) 'Building Secure Data Management Infrastructures for Nigerian Healthcare to Address Patient Privacy, Interoperability Gaps, and Record Fragmentation', International Journal of Advance Research Publication and Reviews 2(12) pp. 93-107. Available At: https://doi.org/10.55248/gengpi.06.1225.4023
Publisher
International Journal of Advance Research Publication and Reviews
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PubMed ID
ISSN
3049-0103