MoH holds Health Informatics Pitso

MPHO MOKWAPE
Correspondent | Thursday June 13, 2013 00:00

 

Giving a keynote address at the second Health Informatics Pitso in Gaborone yesterday, Tlogelang said ICT provides the means to analyse health care system challenges better and to recognise the strengths and weaknesses within the health sector.Tlogelang explained that in recent times, ICT has become a tool that can help healthcare workers make the best decisions accurately and carry them out diligently, thus allowing them an opportunity to predict needs and to act proactively to better care for all Batswana.

'ICT can facilitate better communication between health care workers,' he said. 'By using technology, we can extend specialised care to remote areas, saving time and the cost of travel.'Health Informatics is basically the interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare service delivery, management and planning.The innovation allows and provides information to Electronic Health Records (HER) system developers about requirements that need to be present in an EHR system to address the healthcare needs of patients countrywide and keeps track of what needs to be done.

Tlogelang pointed out that the rapid growth of mobile technology in recent years has introduced new innovations in health informatics known as the 'mHealth' that allows patients with HIV to receive short messages in their phones as reminders for appointments and drugs.ÒMalaria and TB cases are also reported and tracked using phones with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide epidemiological maps which will then help us better fight and eliminate communicable diseases,' he said.For patients in remote areas, access to specialists and referral centres are enabled using mobile phones with cameras and telemedicine software. With the government committed to adopting ICT through e-Government initiatives, Tlogelang said the Ministry of Health has incorporated electronic health as a component of its corporate strategy.

The strategy involves the establishment of a Health Informatics Office responsible for coordinating ICT initiatives and activities at the ministry. The pitso also covered presentations by healthcare workers on technological methods adopted by other countries in improving their healthcare systems. It also embraced the youth under the 'mHealth initiatives Youth and Health Awards for coming up with innovative measures and solutions that address the healthcare challenges that can be aided by a changing technological environment.