Popular health entrepreneur, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Helix Healthcare, Inc, Dr Waley Abolarin has explained the importance of developing homegrown healthcare technology, saying locally designed solutions can better address the needs of Nigerian medical professionals.
Abolarin, who spoke about his company’s technological initiative on an exclusive radio programme on Tuesday, said Helix Healthcare was developing the Helix DX suite of software specifically for use in Nigeria, with plans to make it available to hospitals and private medical practices through a subscription model.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at developing healthcare software locally rather than relying on imported solutions that might be difficult to manage or adapt to the realities of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“We are not importing software from the US that we cannot manage. We are designing it according to Nigerian doctors,” he said.
According to Abolarin, the development process involves engaging Nigerian doctors to understand their needs and incorporate their recommendations into the software.
He disclosed that he had recently spoken with doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, who suggested additional features for the software, adding that the company was willing to make the necessary adjustments.
“I was talking to a couple of UCH doctors over the last couple of days, and they said, ‘Can you add this into the software?’ I said, ‘Yes, you got it.’ We can change it here, and all the people working on it are Nigerians,” he said.
Abolarin described the initiative as an example of homegrown solutions, emphasising that the software was being developed by Nigerians to serve the country’s healthcare sector.
He said the company intended to make the technology accessible to hospitals and private medical practices, allowing healthcare providers to subscribe to and use the software in their operations.
The interview which held on Adamimogo 105.1FM Ibadan, was facilitated by a board member of Adamimogo Communications Limited, Emperor Imoyosola Adetoro.
