Information Technology and Project Management in the Nigerian Health Sector: Evaluating the Role of Digital Systems in Improving Healthcare Project Delivery

Abstract

Healthcare project delivery in Nigeria continues to struggle with weak coordination, unreliable data, limited monitoring capability and poor sustainability of results. However, digital systems are often championed as a panacea for improving project delivery in Nigeria, but the circumstances under which they enhance project performance are still not well known. This research provides an assessment of digital systems improving healthcare project delivery in the Nigerian health sector sitting at the confluence of information technology and project management.
Using a novel conceptual framework as a guide that associates project management phases with important socio-technical elements, the paper presents a qualitative secondary data analysis of nineteen sources on electronic records, mobile health systems, cloud and web-based platforms, blockchain, hospital management systems, capacity building, risk, collaboration, and comparative experiences.
Findings support the claim that digital systems improve data quality for planning, reinforce operational coordination and enhance reliability for monitoring. None of these benefits, however, are disconnected from the other factors, as they are always moderated by the users acceptance, his/ her infrastructure, security issues, institutional capacity and stakeholder involvement. Benefits realisation is most fragile.
This study found digital systems to be necessary but insufficient. Their effect in facilitating effective project delivery will be contingent on purposeful integration into project managementpractice and the existence of enabling contextual elements. The article further proposes an integrative evaluative framework and presents practical implications for enhancing digital health project performance in Nigeria and comparable environments.