Legal and Societal Perspectives on Record Keeping in the Health Care Sector: A Comparative Appraisal of Nigeria and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Record keeping is the backbone of healthcare, yet its implementation varies greatly among countries. This comparative study examines the legal and societal factors influencing record keeping in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The research identifies key disparities, and highlights opportunities for cross-pollination of health record practices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom for improved outcomes. By exploring the intersections of law, culture, and healthcare, this study proposes a hybrid framework, blending the United Kingdom's robust systems with Nigeria's unique cultural context. Ultimately, this research aims to inform policy reforms and capacity-building initiatives, bridging the record-keeping gap and enhancing healthcare outcomes in Nigeria. The methodology used is the doctrinal approach which relies extensively on primary and secondary sources of legal materials, such as legislations, judicial precedents and textual authorities. This paper analyzed the limitations of record keeping in the health sector in these jurisdictions and concluded that there were similarities and differences in how records are being managed, maintained and stored in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The study therefore recommends that the Nigeria government should promote the culture of record keeping and data protection by enacting some policies on management of patients records that will cut across the federal, state and local governments so as to provide uniform practice and enhance good standard of good standard of records management practice, like that of the United Kingdom.