eStrategies Africa 2013
Following the successful eStrategies Africa event held on 26-27 March at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town, a follow-up document has been produced that clearly identifies what action is now needed.
The four Round Tables produced four groups of actions, resulting in a clear roadmap for the improvement of healthcare delivery through the efficient use of Information Communication Technologies.
The actions result from the consensus reached by the large group of Public Sector, Private Sector and Academic participants attending the event, who all have a stake in seeing these healthcare improvements take shape in South Africa and other African countries and who are committed to driving these plans forward:
eStrategies Rapporteurs Statements 2013
Progress so far:
i) Honorable Deputy Minister, Tanzania Dr Seif Rashid has requested the services of eStrategies Africa to put together a similar event for October or November in Dar es Salaam. The Deputy Minister is confident that with his personal invitation the President of Tanzania will open the event. This illustrates the importance of technology at the core of healthcare delivery in African Countries.
ii) The next meeting of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Health Technology (MACH-HT) will take place in July, date to be confirmed. MACH-HT is a committee of experts whose main task is to help the Minister and department of Health deliver on the 2009-2014 mandate of the health sector. This mandate is what guides the Ministry of Health in delivering on the four main outputs of the Health Sector Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement (NSDA), which are:
1. Increasing life expectancy at birth
2. Reducing maternal and child mortality rates
3. Combating HIV & AIDS and TB
4. Strengthening the effectiveness of health systems
Key to achieving these outputs is the ability of the health sector to make use of available health technology.
Now, a representative group from the eStrategies event has been asked to present their views to the committee and share ideas about eHealth implementation. The 20-minute presentation will be followed by a 10-15 minute discussion.
MACH-HT Chairperson, Dr Dumisani Bomela, has agreed that the group will provide technical inputs and support to the committee at all future meetings and that an an important two-way relationship is built.
Although the MACH-HT has no power to enforce recommendations laid out by the eStrategies representative group, it is well-placed to ensure the issues raised and solutions suggested influence policy at the highest level.
iii) An MOU will be drawn up between eStrategies Africa and the eSkills Institute. Work will continue together towards eStrategies Africa, Cape Town, April 2014.
iv) Under the guidance of Professor Maurice Mars an eHealth Strategy Implementation Working Group has been formed. Research will be undertaken in to the monitoring and evaluation of the eHealth implementation strategy.
v) Health informatics South Africa (HISA) 2013 Conference at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), Port Elizabeth, 3 – 5th July. An afternoon session Chaired by Dr Rosemary Foster will discuss progress from the eStrategies Africa event.
Chris Hull
Managing Director
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