eHealth experts urge for integrated health care system

KARACHI, Pakistan News : eHealth solutions may help the nation to face the prevailing challenges , said Director General Health, Dr Rashid Jooma while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day international conference of eHealth Association of Pakistan held at Aga Khan University Hospital.
Referring to the alarming situation of hepatitis B and C, particularly in the hyper-endemic areas of South Punjab, Northern Sindh and adjacent Balochistan areas; he termed lack of qualified human resource to be a prominent factor. He was of the view that tele-medicine, health management information system (HMIS) and integration of resources may help the nation deal with the challenges in the current healthcare scenario.

Dr Jooma also shared the findings from the experience of project HOPE, initiated during his tenure of directorship at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, which provided telemedical linkage between district and teaching hospitals in Sindh.

Prof. Yunkap Kwankam, CEO Global eHealth Consultants-Switzerland and Executive Director of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (IsfTeH), in his keynote speech discussed about the global scenario and various successful eHealth projects in different parts of the world.

Dr Richard E. Scott, an eHealth expert from Canada, highlighting the potential of this emerging field, stated that it could change lives of millions of people. He also urged for collaborations and concerted efforts across nations.

In his welcome address, Dr Zakiuddin Ahmed, a prominent eHealth professional and technical core-group member of eHAP, termed the conference a major step towards establishing eHealth in Pakistan. He shared the historical perspective of eHealth in the country, referring to the National Telemedicine Forum constituted by the former Minister for Science & Technology – Dr Ata ur Rehman and the HOPE project initiated by Dr Rasheed Jooma at JPMC. He stressed for a join platform and taking all the stakeholders on board.

Dr Shariq Khoja, General Secretary eHAP, said that the vision of eHAP is to make Pakistan a model for collaborative, evidence-based, informed and integrated eHealth practice in the (developing) world by 2020. He informed that the focus areas of eHAP were advocacy, capacity building, eHealth advices, policy support and resource management.

President of eHealth Association of Pakistan (eHAP), Dr Asif Zafar Malik, who is also the Project Director of Telemedicine and eHealth Training Center at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi; stated that there was a shortage of specialist doctors in the country. He said that there was a phenomenal increase in the use of technology in the county and connectivity was not an issue, but the medical fraternity was usually shy from technology. In the given scenario, he said, we need to focus on capacity building of the doctors and paramedics to utilize the available technology and make the most out of eHealth solutions. He also shared details of the eHealth projects in various parts of the country and its use in disaster situations.

Dr Haroon Roedad Khan (Vice President eHAP), Dr Abbas, Dr Aziz Khan (from Afghanistan), Mr Angelio (from Philippines), Dr Mohan Raj Pradhan (from Nepal) and various other eHealth experts also spoke at the occasion. Panel discussion among eminent eHealth professionals and stakeholders is a part of the agenda for the second day of the conference.