Lagos State has introduced two new digital platforms, HaemoCentral and an upgraded Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) website, to modernize the coordination, safety, and delivery of blood transfusion services across the state. This move marks a major step toward strengthening healthcare infrastructure through technology.
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HaemoCentral is a centralized electronic blood management system designed to digitally track the full lifecycle of blood from donor registration and screening to storage, distribution, and transfusion. The system enables real-time monitoring and traceability of each unit of blood, ensuring a streamlined process for compatibility testing and reducing the risk of transfusion-related errors. It integrates data across both public and private health facilities and provides a single platform for oversight by regulatory authorities.
The LSBTC website, redesigned to function as a comprehensive coordination tool, now offers a centralized directory of all accredited blood banks in Lagos State. The website provides real-time information on blood availability and allows hospitals and citizens to locate nearby registered blood banks. This digital interface supports the committee’s regulatory mandate by promoting transparency and public access to life-saving services.
The digitization initiative is part of the state government’s broader strategy to improve the quality and availability of blood transfusion services. Lagos requires an estimated 260,000 units of blood annually to meet the needs of its population of over 26 million people. HaemoCentral allows authorities to track supply and demand more efficiently, identify gaps, and implement data-driven interventions.
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The Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee currently regulates 28 public blood banks and supervises 136 private ones. All blood collected is screened at eight state-run centers, ensuring it meets safety standards before being issued for transfusion. The new digital tools will unify data collection and monitoring processes across these facilities, enhancing regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.
This development follows similar efforts at the national level, where the Federal Government recently announced plans to adopt an electronic blood management system to improve transfusion services countrywide. Lagos, by deploying its own locally tailored platforms, positions itself at the forefront of digital health transformation in Nigeria.
The adoption of HaemoCentral and the revitalization of the LSBTC website represent a significant milestone in the delivery of safer, more efficient, and more transparent blood services. These platforms are expected to improve emergency response times, strengthen recordkeeping, and support ongoing training and capacity development in transfusion medicine.
Through these innovations, Lagos is working toward building a resilient, technologically advanced healthcare system capable of meeting the growing demands of its population while aligning with global best practices in public health management.
