16/09/2026
GoHealth Urges Healthcare Providers to Strengthen ICT Capacity Ahead of Full Digitisation
..Promotes 11 Deputy Desk Officers to Local Government Desk Officers
..Cottage Hospital Tumu Demonstrates Impact of GoHealth Funding Through Comprehensive Scorecard
The Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth) has urged accredited healthcare providers across the state to strengthen their information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in preparation for the Agency's planned transition to a fully digital healthcare management system.
The call was made on the second day of the 2026 Second Biannual Healthcare Providers Forum, where stakeholders discussed strategies for improving healthcare service delivery, strengthening accountability and addressing operational challenges confronting healthcare facilities.
The Agency's Executive Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Musa, specifically encouraged healthcare providers, particularly those operating in rural and hard-to-reach communities, to explore alternative internet connectivity solutions, including Starlink, to support the increasing digitalisation of healthcare operations.
He said the recommendation became necessary following concerns raised by some rural healthcare facilities over the lack of stable and reliable internet connectivity in their areas.
Dr. Musa explained that GoHealth's ongoing digital transformation includes drug inventory management, online encounter management and electronic medical records, all of which require dependable internet access and adequate ICT infrastructure at the facility level.
He noted that the transition to digital systems was driven by the need for accurate and accessible records, improved patient management, faster referral response times, effective inventory control and enhanced operational efficiency.
According to him, ICT has the capacity to significantly reduce workload and improve productivity by enabling one person to accomplish tasks that would ordinarily require several staff members.
"The shift to ICT was necessitated by the demand for accurate records, better patient management, quick referral response time, inventory and stock management and control, among others," Dr. Musa explained.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary called on healthcare providers and stakeholders to make judicious use of the resources under their control, stressing that responsible management of available resources remained essential to achieving improved health outcomes.
Dr. Musa urged participants to regard the forum as an opportunity for honest engagement and collective problem-solving.
"We are here to collectively work out solutions that will improve service delivery," he said, encouraging participants to feel free to express their views and concerns without unnecessary formality.
In another significant development, Dr. Abubakar Musa announced the promotion of 11 Deputy Desk Officers to the rank of GoHealth Local Government Desk Officers.
He attributed the promotion to their dedication, commitment and tenacity in advancing the objectives of the Agency.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that since the establishment of Local Government Desk Offices across the state, the workload previously handled by the central desk offices, particularly in relation to the Grievance Redress Mechanism, had reduced by approximately 80 per cent.
He charged the newly promoted officers to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering improved results and demonstrating greater commitment in their new responsibilities.
Also speaking at the forum, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (GSPHCDA), Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, acknowledged that the implementation of the contributory healthcare scheme would naturally come with operational challenges.
He commended the forum's relatively smaller and more focused structure, noting that it provided an opportunity for active participation, experience sharing and peer-to-peer learning among healthcare providers.
"With the implementation of this scheme, there are bound to be challenges. This forum is kept small to encourage active participation and peer-to-peer learning amongst us," Dr. Shuaibu stated.
The GSPHCDA Executive Secretary further appealed to GoHealth management to strengthen collaboration in the area of capacity building for facility managers, particularly in leadership, management and supply chain administration.
He said that while several facility managers were performing exceptionally well, there were still gaps in some facilities that required targeted support and training.
"A lot is expected, but we should keep it in our minds that we are doing this for our patients. I was on supervision few days back, and I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. A lot of the facility in-charges are doing extremely well, but for some there are a few gaps," he said.
He added that strengthening the leadership and management capacity of facility heads would contribute significantly to improving health outcomes across the state.
Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of Gombe State Pharmaceutical Company Limited (GoPharma), Pharm. Rabiu Yakubu, disclosed that the company was developing strategies to further strengthen the demand and supply sides of healthcare delivery, particularly in the areas of logistics and pharmaceutical supply chain management.
Pharm. Rabiu commended the management of GoHealth, led by Dr. Abubakar Musa, for its interventions aimed at strengthening primary healthcare facilities through recapitalisation support and the development of an end-to-end electronic inventory management and control system.
He explained that the system enables healthcare facilities to monitor stock levels, dispense medicines and place drug orders remotely, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the risk of stock-outs.
According to him, the initiative represents a significant development in the state's pharmaceutical supply chain, as it promotes better coordination between healthcare facilities and drug suppliers.
As part of the day's activities, GoPharma also announced the runner-up winners of its Drug Procurement Champion Awards.
Akko Primary Healthcare Centres and Talasse Primary Healthcare Centres emerged as runners-up in the Primary Healthcare Centre category, while General Hospital, Kaltungo, clinched the runner-up position in the Hospitals category.
Each of the recognised facilities received a cash prize of N50,000.
One of the major highlights of the second day was a presentation by the Medical Officer of Cottage Hospital, Tumu, Dr. Umar Adamu Billiri, who demonstrated how effective management of GoHealth funds could translate into tangible improvements in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
Dr. Umar urged facility managers to adhere strictly to GoHealth guidelines and utilise available resources responsibly, noting that doing so would reduce operational difficulties and improve the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.
Presenting the facility's performance scorecard, Dr. Umar showcased a number of projects and interventions undertaken at Cottage Hospital, Tumu, through GoHealth financing.
Among the achievements highlighted were the installation and conversion of solar power as an alternative energy source; acquisition of a brand-new scanning machine; provision of a chemistry analyser for the diagnosis of kidney and liver diseases; and the procurement of a genotype machine for premarital screening and sickle cell diagnosis.
He further listed the provision of a PVC machine, oxygen supply equipment, a nebuliser for emergency asthma management and a new power generator among the facility's accomplishments.
Other interventions included water reticulation to staff quarters, employment and monthly payment of casual staff amounting to N600,000, ongoing multi-million-naira renovation and expansion of the hospital complex, and repairs and maintenance of the hospital ambulance.
The facility had also undertaken the painting of the entire hospital complex, provision of laptops, printers and photocopiers, construction of a car park, purchase of new mattresses and furnishing of offices for principal staff.
Dr. Umar emphasised that one of the most significant achievements recorded by the facility was its ability to sustain round-the-clock medical and healthcare services for patients.
The presentation provided participants with a practical example of how healthcare financing could be translated into improved infrastructure, staff support, diagnostic capacity and uninterrupted service delivery when properly managed.
The second day of the forum brought together healthcare providers from Gombe Central and Gombe South Zones as well as other stakeholders.
Dairus Samson
PRO
GoHealth