A Turning Point for Ghana’s Health System

Ghana’s Ministry of Health recently announced the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) — a new digital health platform set to replace LHIMS (Lightwave Health Information Management System).

This shift highlights the growing importance of Ghana health interoperability, where systems connect instead of compete — securely sharing and exchanging patient information across facilities nationwide.

While this marks a milestone in Ghana’s digital health interoperability journey, it raises an important question:

Are we truly advancing, or are we simply rebuilding the old without fixing the real problem?

As a Medical Informatics professional who has worked on global health IT projects with Siemens, Hoffmann-La Roche, and Clariant — and now leads digital-health innovation in Ghana — I believe the solution lies not in replacement, but in interconnection

What LHIMS Achieved — and Why It Fell Short

The Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) was a significant step forward. It digitized patient records, improved workflows, and streamlined NHIS claims processing across hospitals in Ghana.

However, like several health information systems in Ghana, LHIMS largely operated in isolation. Data rarely flowed to other national platforms such as:

• DHIMS2 — District Health Information Management System (for reporting)
• GhILMIS — Ghana Integrated Logistics Management Information System
• Private hospital EMRs and NGO systems

The result? Data silos — isolated systems unable to communicate, creating inefficiencies and gaps in patient care. This limited health interoperability in Ghana and made nationwide data-driven healthcare difficult to achieve.

What the World Is Doing Differently

Across Africa and beyond, countries are realizing that the future of digital health transformation isn’t about building one “super system.” It’s about health interoperability — creating a shared digital backbone that allows multiple systems to exchange data seamlessly and securely.

Think about how mobile money works in Ghana: whether you use MTN, Vodafone, or AirtelTigo, transactions flow through a central interoperability switch. That’s exactly what Ghana’s health ecosystem needs — a National Health Interoperability Layer that connects public, private, and NGO systems into one unified health information network.

The Case for a National Health Interoperability Layer

Instead of investing millions into yet another closed ERP platform, Ghana should focus on developing a National Health Interoperability Layer — a neutral, standards-based foundation that connects all health systems and strengthens digital health integration in Ghana.

Achieving Ghana health interoperability will ensure hospitals, labs, and clinics across the country share data seamlessly, reducing duplication and improving patient outcomes.

Key Components:

• Standards-Based Architecture (HL7 FHIR, OpenHIE, IHE)
  Enables data exchange between LHIMS, GHIMS, DHIMS2, GhILMIS, and private EMRs.
• National Patient Identifier
  Assigns every citizen a unique, secure digital ID linked to their records across systems.
• Data Governance Framework
  Defines ownership, access, and privacy across public and private healthcare actors.
• Open Integration Policy
  Encourages startups, labs, and telehealth providers to connect via secure APIs, enabling innovation rather than exclusion.

This approach doesn’t make LHIMS obsolete — it makes it interconnected, part of a living digital ecosystem where systems talk to each other rather than compete.

The Benefits for Ghana

• Continuity of Care
  Patients can be treated anywhere in the country with their records instantly available, improving outcomes and safety.
• Better Policy Decisions
  Aggregated, real-time data enables faster response to outbreaks and smarter resource allocation.
• Health Innovation
  Developers and startups can build new health apps and analytics tools on a common foundation — without duplicating systems.
• Efficiency and Transparency
  Reduces data fragmentation, improves NHIS claims accuracy, and strengthens accountability across institutions.

Ghana Can Lead Africa in Health Interoperability

Ghana already has what it takes to lead this transformation:

• A strong, growing health-tech community
• Increasing broadband and mobile coverage
• A government committed to digital transformation

But success depends on architecture, not procurement. We must invest in a national interoperability layer that connects LHIMS, GHIMS, DHIMS2, and emerging private systems into one cohesive digital health fabric.

Final Thoughts: Connect, Don’t Replace

Replacing LHIMS with another ERP might fix short-term frustrations, but it won’t solve the core challenge of fragmented health data.

If we truly want a connected, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system, Ghana’s next digital health investment must focus on integration, standards, and interoperability — not another isolated platform.

About the Author

Samuel Nettey is a Medical Informatics Specialist and the Founder of Scycare Ghana, a digital health platform redefining how health institutions connect and collaborate across Africa. With over 17  years of experience in software architecture and IT consultancy, Samuel has contributed to global health technology projects with Siemens, Hoffmann-La Roche, and Clariant, and now leads innovation in Ghana’s e-health ecosystem.

Through Scynett, his Germany–Ghana technology consultancy, Samuel helps organizations modernize their digital infrastructure using .NET, Azure, and cloud-native architectures. He is passionate about building Africa’s next generation of healthtech systems and advancing the development of distributed systems across industries.

www.samuelnettey.com | www.scycare.com | www.scynett.com

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