ict, health

www.uneca.org/aisiwww.uneca.org/aisi

ICT + HEALTH IN ETHIOPIAICT + HEALTH IN ETHIOPIANATIONAL WORKSHOPNATIONAL WORKSHOP

9-10 March9-10 March 20062006UNECA, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaUNECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

ICT, Health & AISI

Aida Opoku-Mensah

OIC, DISD


BackgroundBackgroundThe African Information The African Information

Society Initiative (AISI)Society Initiative (AISI) a vision for ICT development in

Africa an implementation process, with

evaluation of results & impact (Policy)

series of sector applications defined according to Africa’s priorities (Info+Know)

a tool where synergies are created through open partnerships


African Information Society Initiative (AISI)African Information Society Initiative (AISI)

launched in 1996 by the African Ministers in charge of planning and economic development

endorsed by the African Regional Telecommunications for Development Conference held in Abidjan in 1996

endorsed by the 1996 OAU (now AU) Summit

welcomed during the G7+1 Denver Summit in 1997


AISI Activities (1/3)AISI Activities (1/3) Policy – assisting countries to

develop national e-strategies and raise awareness among policy makers (including parliamentarians) on issues related to ICT4D

Information and knowledge – building capacity of member States to develop and use information for development


AISI Activities (2/3)AISI Activities (2/3) Outreach activities –

information dissemination on ICT4D activities –involvement of Women’s groups/CSOs, Media, Academia, MPs, etc

Partnership and networking – joint ICT programs with development and funding agencies working in Africa and voicing Africa’s position in global fora like WSIS


AISI Activities (3/3)AISI Activities (3/3)

Regional ICT initiatives - African Union - WSIS

- NEPAD ICT cluster- Regional Economic

Communities (RECs)


AISI+ Health (1/3)AISI+ Health (1/3)

…for ICTs to assist in improving healthcare delivery in Africa, and for addressing the issue in a comprehensive manner, countries need to develop and implement national e-health strategies


AISI+ Health (2/3)AISI+ Health (2/3)

The main challenges for Africa are: Epidemics, spread of infectious diseases, AIDS Highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the world Lowest levels of life expectancy in the world Lowest world ratio of doctors per capita.

The opportunities include: Enhancement of health administration and management through

medical information systems Establishment of information “health profiles” and decision-

support systems on regional, national, rural and district levels Linking health centres, delivery services and medical transport to

patients Improving access to skilled diagnosis through tele-medicine Improving distribution and reducing costs of medical supplies


AISI+ Health (3/3)AISI+ Health (3/3)Health care objective: Achieve more efficient and affordable health care

Beneficiaries: society, health care providers

Goals: Establish and maintain databases on public and private medical

centres, physicians and health care providers Provide on-line access to national and international medical

databases and expertise (telemedicine) Link health administration for improving distribution of drugs and

medical supplies Link health care systems with centres for disease control for early

warnings of plagues and infectious diseases Link health care systems with insurance companies, medical

practitioners, and the public


AISI+MDGsAISI+MDGs

AISI + Health AISI + Health addresses MDGs:addresses MDGs:

4. reduce child mortality5. improve maternal

health

6. combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases


Impact of ICTs on Health (1/4)Impact of ICTs on Health (1/4)

ICT revolution + medical technology = transformed health systems and services worldwide

Tremendous promise for services, health administration, finance, education, research and health-related markets

Technological developments - wireless and satellite systems, broadband communications, better access to services and increasing digital processing power and storage capacity

Health an information-intensive sector and transforming health information systems to knowledge-based systems (According to WHO, 40% of health is exchanging information!)

New opportunities for mobility of patients and trade in health (services)


Impact of ICTs on the Health Sector – Impact of ICTs on the Health Sector – Africa (2/4)Africa (2/4)

Medical information systems (administration and management):Health profilesAccess to diagnosisEffective medical planningHealth education and trainingDrug supply and inventory tracking (epidemics &

contagious diseases)Treatment procedures and protocolsHealth care resource tracking and support in remote

areas


Impact of ICTs on the Health Sector– Africa (3/3)Impact of ICTs on the Health Sector– Africa (3/3)

ICT in Health Research and Development Networks Applications

ICT in Health Education Public/Community health information systems

Telecenters Community Health Information Systems (CHIS)

Telemedicine systems Remote clinical diagnosis and advice Interconnections of users in the field, local clinics, regional

health facilities and national hospitals, and the linkage with key international institutions

Disease-related centers of excellence – crucial to Africa considering the HR problem in medicine


ICTs and Health – Best PracticesICTs and Health – Best Practicesin Africa (1/7)in Africa (1/7)

Handheld computers (PDAs) for:DiagnosisMedical reference BillingPatient managementDrug dosage calculationsDisease surveys


PDA projects in Uganda, Kenya Uganda: test use and usefulness by medical

practitioners toconduct an epidemiological survey on malariause medical reference tools and texts in their daily

medical practice Kenya: test use and usefulness of PDAs by

students tocollect field survey informationuse medical reference tools and texts as part of their

studies

ICTs and Health – Best PracticesICTs and Health – Best Practicesin Africa/PDAs (2/7)in Africa/PDAs (2/7)


Key findings: Proved to be useful and viable technology in Uganda

and Kenya Effective tool for collection of health data and

information dissemination Medical reference materials available on the PDA

helped improve the provision of healthcare Appropriate technology for use in the African context Inexpensive alternative to PCs in terms of computer

power per dollar Simple to use, easily integrated into the daily routines

of the healthcare professionals

ICTs and Health – Best PracticesICTs and Health – Best Practicesin Africa/PDA Findings (3/7)in Africa/PDA Findings (3/7)


Key lessons: Training is needed for users and project managers PDA use changes the way that surveys should be

designed and conducted Technical support is critical Content must be locally relevant Power supply must be appropriate to the situation:

battery-powered units would only be the first choice in situations where a ready electricity supply is unavailable

Synchronizing onto a central data system must be simple and convenient

Video clip on PDA use in Uganda >>

ICTs and Health – Best PracticesICTs and Health – Best Practicesin Africa/PDA Lessons (4/7)in Africa/PDA Lessons (4/7)



TelemedicineTelemedicineMali – Kènèya Blown project (the pilot telemedicine project

seeks to provide an online network for all hospitals and health districts in Mali

Mozambique - probably one of the first telemedicine link in Africa in 1999 -between the central hospitals of Beira and Maputo

Uganda - The service includes exchange of data, audio consultation, and showing of diagnostic images led by Telemedicine National Steering Committee



Ghana - Stimulating Local Digital Health Content by using video The health information (on breastfeeding) was developed by the

local communities themselves in local languages and presented to five communities

Survey confirmed that the use of local languages to deliver health messages has tremendous impact when sound and image is combined.

More than 350 people from five communities benefited from the education, 800 mothers were targeted

Success in the sense of being pioneering in producing local content with the assistance of participating communities.



Ghana -CHIM (Community Health Information Management)

Data collecting system at district level

Tool for decision making in the Ministry and government

Complimentarity with the EU GIS project EMMSDAG (Establishing a Mapping and Monitoring System for Development Activities)


ICT in Health Sector Reforms ICT in Health Sector Reforms (1/2)(1/2)Benefits

Facilitates decentralisation efforts linking national medical centers to district health facilities in other cities, towns and rural/remote access

Standardise data collection (access/retrieval)Enable patient information to be stored where in

some cases hospitals in Africa have manual records dating back 40 years.

Enable quick sharing of information and catching epidemics contagious diseases at early stages


ICT in Health Sector Reforms (2/2)ICT in Health Sector Reforms (2/2)

Benefits Collection of accurate health statistics for health

workers, governments and donors who rely on such information to allocate resources during and after sector reforms

Access to consistent and reliable health information allow health workers to access real time data, leading to better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases

Therefore Health Sector Strategic Plans in Africa could make use of ICT as a tool for rollout


National e-Health policies and strategiesNational e-Health policies and strategies

Rationale Strategies and policies to support effective and equitable e-

health systems

Facilitate collaborative approach to e-health development in addressing common areas of concern and collaboration with other sectors in ICT policy, standards, and technical and infrastructure development

Monitor internationally-accepted goals and targets for e-health

Strengthen ICT in health education and training in countries

Important that ICTs used to maximise the use of scarce health resources rather than divert resources from basic health needs of countries


Role of ECA in e-Health Strategies Role of ECA in e-Health Strategies + Policies+ Policies

Technical assistance and capacity building - development of assessment methods, standards and tools to guide best use of ICT to improve access, quality and economy of health

Link technical assistance to facilitate health sector reforms

Strengthen Health Sector decentralisation efforts


Challenges/Considerations for e-Health Challenges/Considerations for e-Health Strategies and Policies (1/2)Strategies and Policies (1/2)

Ethical issues Maintaining confidentiality of information and the privacy of patients Safeguarding integrity of information systems present continuing

challenge

Legal issues emerging and many e-health applications currently unregulated, unlike other aspects of health systems

Legislation covering confidentiality, privacy, access and liability is necessary with the transfer of information across national borders. Conflicts between domestic and international law need to be resolved


Challenges/Considerations for e-Health Challenges/Considerations for e-Health Strategies and Policies (2/2)Strategies and Policies (2/2)

Capacity building essential for successful use of ICT in health systems where health personnel need skills and knowledge

Policy makers need to shape ICT policies to promote equity, best practice, quality of care and data as well as safety. Other skill areas include legal, policy and technical

Awareness of convergence of information, technology, education and health for health knowledge in the right language for people

Infrastructure/infostructure – connectivity, content, applications to support e-Health initiatives


Support for e-Health strategies (Uganda) Partnership – WHO on e-Health strategies

Capacity building for policy makers (vLAC) (eg. workshop for medical practitioners (Aug 2004) – partnership with AAU, ETC, ITU in Telemedicine in Ethiopia

Research and innovation – eg. AAU VarsityNet project on health applications

Advocacy creating e-Health leaders/champions Building e-Health stakeholdership (PPPs)

The way forward – Role of ECAThe way forward – Role of ECA


Thank You !Thank You !

http://www.uneca.org/aisi/http://www.uneca.org/aisi/

[email protected]@uneca.org

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