Zambia: Eastern Province Achieves 61% Digital Health Coverage as SmartCare Pro Transforms Patient Care

Over 250 health facilities now connected through upgraded electronic health record system

Eastern Province has made substantial progress in digitalizing its healthcare delivery system, with the advanced SmartCare Pro platform now operational in more than 250 health facilities across the region. The Provincial Health Office confirmed that the upgraded electronic health record system has achieved approximately 61% coverage of the province’s over 420 health facilities.

Provincial leadership hails digital transformation success

During an assessment visit this week in Chipata on March 18, 2026, Provincial Health Director Dr. George Mathews Ngambi emphasized the strategic importance of the digital health initiative. “This visit is aimed at reviewing the deployment of SmartCare Pro and assessing what is required to sustainably operate these systems at national level,” he explained.

Dr. Ngambi expressed confidence in the rollout’s trajectory, noting that “we have rolled out SmartCare Pro to just over 250 facilities, and with continued government support, we are confident the remaining sites will be covered within the next year.”

Game-changing impact on patient care delivery

The Provincial Health Director described SmartCare Pro as a “game-changer” for patient care, highlighting significant improvements in real-time data access and continuity of care across facilities. The system addresses one of Zambia’s most persistent healthcare challenges: maintaining patient records when individuals move between different health facilities.

“For patients, the experience is much smoother. Their information is accessible to providers in real time, enabling faster and more informed medical decisions,” Dr. Ngambi explained. “Many of our patients move between towns and provinces, and SmartCare Pro allows us to track and support them wherever they access care.”

Healthcare workers report dramatic efficiency improvements

Frontline health workers have documented notable efficiency gains since implementing the digital system. At Chipata District Hospital, Acting Officer-in-Charge Dr. Feline Mtonga highlighted the transformation in record management and patient follow-up procedures.

“There is no longer a need to search for paper records. Follow-up is easier—once you log in, you can see when the patient was last seen, who attended to them, and their vital information,” she reported. “Even if a patient loses their card, their history remains accessible.”

This digital accessibility represents a fundamental shift from paper-based systems that often resulted in lost records and incomplete patient histories when individuals sought care at different facilities.

Connectivity challenges persist amid digital progress

While celebrating the system’s benefits, health workers acknowledged ongoing infrastructure challenges. Dr. Mtonga noted that internet connectivity remains a significant operational concern that can impact system performance.

“The main drawback is the reliance on stable internet. When connectivity is poor, processes can slow down,” she observed. “But overall, this is a positive step. The world is becoming increasingly digital.”

Successful migration from legacy systems

Chipata District Hospital successfully transitioned from the legacy SmartCare system to SmartCare Pro in April 2025, following comprehensive staff orientation conducted in December 2024. Health Information Officer Paul Mufwambi oversaw the technical migration process that preserved existing patient data while upgrading system capabilities.

“We successfully migrated data from SmartCare Plus to the new system in April 2025,” Mufwambi confirmed, highlighting the seamless transition that maintained continuity of patient records while introducing enhanced functionality.

Strategic foundation for health system strengthening

Health authorities position the continued expansion of SmartCare Pro as critical infrastructure for strengthening resource management and improving health outcomes across Eastern Province. The digital platform provides unprecedented visibility into patient flows, treatment patterns, and resource utilization that can inform evidence-based healthcare planning.

The successful deployment in Eastern Province serves as a model for other regions as Zambia advances its national digital health agenda, demonstrating both the transformative potential and practical considerations required for large-scale health system digitalization.

The achievement of 61% coverage represents significant progress toward universal digital health record access, with the remaining facilities expected to join the network within the next year as infrastructure and training capacity expand.