Project IRIS (Integrated Registry of Indigenous Systems): A Digital Public Health Framework for the Standardisation, Safety, and Integration of Nigerian Herbal Medicinal Products

Traditional herbal medicine (THM) remains a dominant source of healthcare for millions of Nigerians and continues to function as a first-line health system in many communities. Despite its widespread use, the governance of herbal medicinal products (HMPs) in Nigeria is characterised by weak standardisation, limited pharmacovigilance, fragmented evidence generation, and minimal integration with orthodox health systems. These gaps pose significant public health risks, including adverse drug reactions, herb–drug interactions, and regulatory blind spots.
This article presents Project IRIS (Integrated Registry of Indigenous Systems), a digital public health innovation designed to strengthen the safety, regulation, and evidence base of Nigerian HMPs through a unified national informatics platform. Project IRIS integrates three core components: a standardised digital HMP registry, an adapted pharmacovigilance reporting system, and a linked evidence repository. Anchored in health systems strengthening and digital health theory, the project aligns with the World Health Organisation’s Traditional Medicine Strategy and emerging global frameworks for data-driven integrative care. This paper provides a comprehensive conceptual, methodological, and technical exposition of Project IRIS and argues that digital integration of traditional medicine is essential for patient safety, regulatory intelligence, and equitable universal health coverage in low- and middle-income countries.

Public Health

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