HealthLink Central is a centralized, consent-based health record system designed to enable secure, real-time access to patient medical information across healthcare facilities in South Africa. In many healthcare facilities today, patient records are still stored as physical files within individual hospitals or clinics. This creates fragmented medical histories, as patients must often have to recreate a files when visiting a different facility. This leads to delays in treatment, repeated medical tests, and inefficient communication between healthcare providers and/or facilities. HealthLink Central solves this by introducing a single, unified digital health record per patient that can be securely accessed from any authorized healthcare institution. This ensures continuity of care, improves efficiency, and supports better clinical decision-making.
Healthcare facilities that rely on physical or isolated digital records face several challenges:
- Patient records are not shared between hospitals or clinics
- Medical history is often incomplete or inaccessible in emergencies
- Patients must repeatedly register and recreate files
- Delays occur in diagnosis and treatment
- Increased administrative workload for healthcare staff These challenges negatively impact the quality and speed of healthcare delivery.
HealthLink Central introduces a centralized national-style health record system where:
- Each patient has one unified digital medical record (file)
- Records can be accessed across multiple healthcare facilities
- Access is strictly controlled and consent-based
- Patients remain in full control of their medical data
HealthLink Central is designed with both a web-based system and a mobile application to support patient registration, identity verification, and secure access to medical records.
- A patient is registered once at any healthcare facility
- A clerk uses the web platform to capture:
- Patient details (e.g., name, ID)
- Medical baseline information
- The patient’s identity is verified using a webcam (Face ID/biometric scan)
- A unique digital health record is created for the patient This record becomes the patient’s single, centralized file across all healthcare institutions.
During a consultation, users access the system via the mobile app by selecting their role:
- “I am a Patient”
- “I am a Healthcare Provider”
When a patient selects “I am a Patient”:
- They can view their medical records
- Use Face ID to verify identity
- Access the AI health assistant to better understand their condition
When a provider selects “I am a Healthcare Provider”:
- They search for the patient in the system
- Request access to the patient’s record
The system supports multiple consent methods:
- Patient approves access using Face ID on their device
- Patient is verified in person using the web system and webcam
- Clerk assists with approval
- In critical cases, controlled access is granted using predefined protocols
Once verification and consent are complete:
- The healthcare provider is granted secure, temporary access to the patient’s centralized medical record
This approach ensures that HealthLink Central is inclusive, secure, and adaptable, supporting both digital and non-digital users across all healthcare environments.
Security and privacy are central to the system design:
- No healthcare provider can access records without consent
- Face ID authentication is used for secure patient approval
- Access is time-bound and controlled
- Patient data is protected using secure authentication layers In emergency situations where a patient is unable to respond:
- The system supports controlled emergency access mechanisms
- Family or authorized contacts may provide consent where applicable
HealthLink Central integrates Nokia-hosted CAMARA APIs via the Network-as-Code Developer Portal to enhance identity verification, device trust, and system security.
- KYC Match API Used to verify that the patient’s identity matches telecom-verified records before granting access.
- Number Verification API Confirms that the mobile number used in the request belongs to the registered patient.
- Device Status API Checks whether the patient’s device is active and reachable for consent approval.
- SIM Swap API (optional enhancement) Detects potential fraud or SIM change activity to prevent unauthorized access.
- Location Verification API Ensures that access requests are made from valid healthcare environments (e.g., hospitals or clinics).
HealthLink Central includes an AI-powered healthcare assistant designed to support patients in understanding their medical information. When a user selects “I am a patient”, they gain access to a chatbot that interacts only with healthcare-related information from their record.
- Explains diagnoses in simple, understandable language
- Breaks down medical terms and prescriptions
- Provides guidance based on the patient’s recorded condition
- Helps patients understand treatment instructions
The AI assistant does not replace medical professionals. It only provides informational support based on existing patient data and is designed to assist, not diagnose or prescribe.
- View personal health records
- Approve or deny access requests
- Use AI health assistant
- Manage consent-based sharing
- Request access to patient records
- View records after approval
- Update medical information (authorized access only)
- Centralized patient health records
- Consent-based access control
- Face ID authentication
- Cross-facility record sharing
- Emergency access support
- Telecom-powered identity verification (CAMARA APIs)
- AI health assistant for patients
- Full national healthcare integration
- Advanced AI clinical summarization (RAG-based system)
- Offline emergency record access
- Expanded interoperability between hospitals
- Predictive health insights using AI
To build a unified digital healthcare ecosystem where patient data is secure, portable, and accessible anywhere, ensuring faster, safer, and more efficient healthcare delivery for all.
This project is currently in prototype development as part of a hackathon focused on healthcare innovation using telecom-powered APIs and AI-assisted systems.