By Hassan Karofi
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Rahila Aliyu Mukhtar, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), Kano State is setting a new benchmark for healthcare innovation and service delivery. Through the successful deployment of a digitised service utilisation portal across Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and the introduction of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems in high-volume secondary health facilities, KSCHMA is reshaping how healthcare services are delivered, monitored, and managed across the state.
This landmark achievement represents a major leap forward in the state’s journey toward a more efficient, transparent, and patient-centred healthcare system. More than a technological upgrade, it is a strategic transformation designed to strengthen health insurance operations, improve clinical outcomes, and ensure that healthcare decisions are driven by accurate, real-time data.
For many years, healthcare facilities across Kano relied heavily on paper-based records and fragmented reporting systems. These challenges often resulted in delays, incomplete data, and difficulties in tracking patient histories, limiting the ability of health managers to plan effectively and respond promptly to emerging healthcare needs. The absence of reliable data not only weakened service delivery but also affected the quality and continuity of care available to residents.
Recognising the urgent need for change, KSCHMA embarked on an ambitious digital transformation programme aimed at modernising health information management across the state. The Agency successfully deployed its digitised service utilisation portal in 484 Primary Healthcare Centres and 40 healthcare facilities, while simultaneously introducing EMR systems in secondary facilities with high patient volumes.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the initiative extended beyond software deployment. Healthcare workers received extensive training and ongoing technical support, while critical infrastructure improvements, including the installation of solar-powered energy systems, were implemented to guarantee uninterrupted operations and maximise system performance.
The impact has been immediate and significant. Since the launch of the digitised portal, healthcare utilisation reporting has increased by 30 percent, providing health administrators with more accurate, timely, and comprehensive data for monitoring and decision-making. Access to near real-time information is enabling more responsive planning, stronger accountability, and better resource allocation across the healthcare system.
Equally important, the introduction of Electronic Medical Records has strengthened continuity of care for thousands of patients.
Digital patient records and referral tracking systems now allow information to follow patients across different levels of care, reducing the gaps and inefficiencies that were common under paper-based systems. As a result, healthcare providers can make more informed clinical decisions, while patients benefit from safer, more coordinated care.
Beyond its immediate achievements, the initiative has generated valuable lessons for the future of digital health in Nigeria.
Experience from the Kano model has demonstrated that technology alone is not enough. Sustainable digital transformation requires parallel investments in reliable power, strong technical support systems, staff capacity development, and data quality assurance mechanisms.
These complementary investments have been instrumental in driving adoption, improving data integrity, and ensuring the success of the programme.
Today, Kano’s experience stands as a compelling example for State Social Health Insurance Agencies across Nigeria. By investing in digital health infrastructure, strengthening workforce capacity, and prioritising data-driven decision-making, states have an opportunity to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and deliver better health outcomes for their populations.
As Kano State continues to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare through its contributory health insurance scheme, the successful digitisation of PHCs and secondary health facilities represents more than an operational achievement. It is a reflection of KSCHMA’s commitment to innovation, accountability, and excellence, and a clear demonstration of how strategic leadership can harness technology to improve the lives of millions.
Under Dr. Rahila Aliyu Mukhtar’s leadership, Kano is not merely digitising healthcare records; it is building a smarter, stronger, and more resilient healthcare system for the future.
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