LASG To Strengthen Health Data Protection

The Lagos State Government on Monday, reaffirmed commitment to develop an improved data governing regime to enhance the health care delivery systems in the State.

The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during a workshop organised by the Ministry of Health on Data Privacy with the theme: “Data Protection and Public Health – the Role of Government and other Stakeholders”.

Abayomi stated that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is poised to leverage data governance to improve health care delivery, stressing that the State government is taking the issue of data governance for data protection seriously.

“The essence of the workshop organised by the State Ministry of Health is to establish the fundamental principles of governance and accountability around building a Temple of Bio-Economy in the State with the objective of exploring the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency’s policy with a view to domesticating it in Lagos State”, the Commissioner said.

He explained that data is the future of the knowledge economy, adding that the government will explore data for adequate and prompt decision making whilst reducing operational friction in the delivery of sustainable healthcare.

According to him, the development of robust data makes it possible to have a single source of truth with a solid database which makes planning and decision making effective.

“Data is the future of knowledge of the economy. We are here to establish the fundamental principle of governance and accountability around building the temple of Bio-Economy and how it will be governed to prevent bio-piracy and bio-theft”, he said.

While stressing the importance of adequate data governing, Abayomi noted that a well-established and strengthened health information platform will positively impact our various healthcare systems.

He said: “It is important for us to establish and strengthen our health information platforms as this will positively impact on our various healthcare systems, health financing through our universal health coverage, biosecurity, biosafety which will also lead to employment opportunities while opening doors for international collaboration”.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Messages, Mr. Moses Braimah, who was one of the facilitators at the workshop, highlighted the importance of accurate data in medicine and healthcare delivery and described data as increasingly becoming the centre of every organisation and business which makes it a precious asset of any organisation.

Braimah explained that data governance will go a long way in achieving better decision making, greater data quality, improved data understanding and increased revenue for the State.

“Data is increasingly becoming the centre of every organisation and business. This makes it one of the most precious assets of any organisation. Data governance will enhance better decision making, operational efficiency, greater data quality, improved data understanding and increased regulatory compliance”, he said.