The Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria (HRORBN) has inaugurated a National Stakeholders Committee to review and strengthen policies for the practice of Health Information Management (HIM) in Nigeria.

The committee was inaugurated during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held at the headquarters of the Board, where the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of HRORBN, Alhaji Babagana Mustapha, charged members to develop practical recommendations that would improve the profession and contribute to better healthcare delivery across the country.

Alhaji Babagana said the committee’s work was particularly important at a time when the health sector was undergoing significant changes driven by digital technology, electronic health records and the growing demand for accurate and timely health information.

According to him, health information professionals play an important role in the healthcare system, from ensuring that patients’ records are properly maintained to providing reliable data that supports clinical decisions, planning and health policy.

He urged members of the committee to approach their assignment with professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility, noting that the outcome should have a direct and lasting impact on the Health Information Management profession.

The committee comprises stakeholders drawn from different areas of the profession, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, elders of the profession, academic and legal experts, representatives from the six geopolitical zones, training institutions and professional associations, including the Association of Health Records and Information Management Practitioners and NAHIMS.

The broad representation, according to the Board, is intended to ensure that the review reflects the views and experiences of practitioners, educators, and other stakeholders across the country.

The committee will focus on five major areas. These include the review of the Scheme of Service for Health Information Management professionals to provide clearer career progression and appropriate professional recognition; harmonisation of HIM curricula to ensure uniformity and relevance in training; and the development of minimum standards for HIM departments at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare.

Other areas of focus are the establishment of a dedicated training institute for specialised training, continuing professional development, research and leadership development, as well as the introduction of practical components into the licensing examination for prospective Health Information Management professionals.

The Registrar named Dr. Benson Oweghoro, the Board’s Academic Consultant and a respected professional in the field, as Chairman of the committee.

Alhaji Babagana expressed confidence in Dr. Oweghoro’s ability to provide effective leadership and facilitate constructive discussions that would lead to workable recommendations.

Representing the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Shuaib Alkali commended HRORBN for initiating the stakeholders’ engagement and reaffirmed the Ministry’s willingness to collaborate with the Board towards the development of the profession.

He encouraged members of the committee to bring their experience and technical knowledge to bear on the assignment.

Alhaji Babagana, while addressing the committee, said the Board looked forward to recommendations that would be practical, sustainable and capable of strengthening Health Information Management practice in Nigeria.

The initiative is expected to contribute to improved professional standards, better management of health records and more reliable health information for planning and decision-making across the Nigerian healthcare system.

PR UNIT