By Tuwilika Nafuka
Have you ever wondered what happens to your health information after a blood test or hospital admission? Is it safe from cyberattacks or leaks?
The recent cyberattack on Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services, which primarily affected the Pharmaceutical Management Information System (PMIS), has revealed vulnerabilities in our health data infrastructure. This breach highlights the urgency of safeguarding health information in a world where digital threats are on the rise.
To understand the implications, it’s important to understand how health data is currently stored in Namibia.
Namibia’s health data storage is divided into two major systems: a paper-based system (used in the public sector and most private practices) and electronic health records (EHRs), used to a certain extent in some private hospitals.
The Public health facilities setup ensures that as a patient you are granted access to care using your health passport, and without this passport, access to healthcare can be denied. While slightly more advanced, private practices and private hospitals rely on physical files that are updated with each visit.
For example, if you are admitted to the Katutura State Hospital for surgery, a complete health/medical history is taken, including your family history. All blood tests, scans (like ultrasounds or X- rays), surgical procedures, and progress notes are recorded on paper as part of your health file while admitted. After discharge, a summary of your hospital admission is added to your health passport for your reference and safekeeping.
While the paper-based approach offers simplicity, it comes with significant challenges such as loss and damage, misplacement, theft, or destruction, and the paper records are confined to a single location, restricting real-time data sharing. This disjointed system creates inefficiencies, especially when patients transfer between public and private healthcare facilities.
For instance, if you transfer from a state hospital to a private one, your health history needs to be retaken upon admission to the private hospital.
EHRs offer a modern solution to these problems. Digital records streamline data sharing between facilities, reduce duplication of information, and improve efficiency in patient care. A cohesive digital system could bridge the gap between Namibia’s state and private healthcare sectors, ensuring seamless communication and better continuity of care.
However, as the December 2024 cyberattack demonstrated, digital systems are not without risks. To safeguard sensitive health data, robust cybersecurity protocols must be prioritized. Namibia already employs several digital platforms which include: Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), Radiology Information Systems (RIS), and Pharmaceutical Management Information System (PMIS)
These platforms can be integrated with systems like DHIS2 (District Health Information System), which is mostly used for managing HIV/AIDS and TB data in Namibia. Fortunately, many of these systems can operate offline, a key feature in areas with limited internet connectivity and cybersecurity concerns.
So, how safe are your health information and lab results during a cyberattack? They are safe, as long as we build robust cybersecurity embedded into any digital health transformation. The December data breach is an opportunity to advance Namibia’s digital health ecosystem.
To fully realize its potential, Namibia must move toward a unified system such as a National Health Intranet to serve as the backbone for the country’s digital health ecosystem. Intranet is a secure, private network that can link all healthcare facilities and systems that would streamline data reporting and improve communication between the public and private healthcare sectors.
Namibia stands at a critical juncture. With the right investments in secure digital systems, we can create a future where patient information is not only safe but also transformative for healthcare delivery.
The question now isn’t whether we should embrace digital health, it’s how quickly we can make it a reality.
* Tuwilika Nafuka is an innovative STEM medical professional, Social Justice Activist, and Digital Health Transformation champion, passionate about leveraging technology to revolutionize healthcare systems.
