LHIMS breakdown forces hospitals back to manual records

Project Manager of the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), Eric Agyei, has attributed the ongoing disruptions in the country’s digital health record system to unresolved administrative and contractual challenges.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Agyei explained that although the LHIMS platform “has been working all this while,” the expiry of its contract in 2024 and subsequent delays in securing an extension have left the project in limbo.

“We requested an extension, but it didn’t materialise. We heard nothing further until a new government took office,” he said.

The issue coincides with a recent National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) announcement that several of its electronic hospital management systems are experiencing temporary nationwide disruptions.

The situation has caused delays in public hospitals, particularly in the Ashanti Region, as facilities revert to manual record-keeping, resulting in longer patient waiting times.

Agyei explained that the problem began when the LHIMS contract expired toward the end of 2024.

He said the previous administration had requested integrations with other national systems, such as the Births and Deaths Registry, prompting Lightwave to seek a contract extension.

However, the extension was not granted, and under the new government, there has been no official communication regarding the project’s future.

“We’ve tried to engage the Minister of Health or the ministry, but it’s been nearly six months with no response,” Agyei stressed, describing LHIMS as “one of the ministry’s most innovative systems.”

He also warned about unauthorised individuals impersonating Lightwave staff and conducting audits in some facilities.

“If anyone comes claiming to represent Lightwave, hospitals should verify with us first,” he cautioned.

Despite these challenges, Lightwave eHealthcare Solutions Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s e-health agenda, despite having been operating without a renewed formal contract for several months.

The company says that while LHIMS remains functional in many hospitals, the lack of funding and official backing is creating technical difficulties and threatening the system’s long-term sustainability.

Meanwhile, the NHIA has directed health facilities to temporarily use the Claims Check Code (CCC) mobile platform to process claims and has urged providers not to pass delays on to patients.

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