Bridging the Data Divide: A Framework for a Centralized Electronic Health Record System in Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents MedSync, an enhanced Electronic Health Records (EHR) system designed to address the fragmentation of patient data and the lack of interoperability among healthcare providers in Nigeria. Unlike traditional on-prem models, MedSync adopts a Software-as-a-Service framework that aims to enable hospitals invite patients and staff, and most importantly, allows each patient and their designated doctors to maintain and securely access centralized medical histories across multiple hospitals. The research began with a review of the country’s healthcare landscape, analyzing prevailing EHR concepts, challenges, and organizational barriers to data exchange. Comparative case studies were conducted on existing local systems and international counterparts. Based on these findings, the system was implemented using the Django REST Framework, while the client-side was built with React and deployed on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The software incorporates an AI assistant that integrates the Gemini API, alongside multi-factor authentication with Google Authenticator. System testing and implementation documentation confirmed that the software met its core design objectives. The prototype performed reliably in simulated workflows and edge cases such as patient registration, clinician access control, and multi-hospital data sharing. The study highlights a practical foundation for future integration with live hospital environments and broader digital health adoption.