Most probably "Nah, forget it!" And it would be reasonable and human to feel so.
The new skills he or she acquires cannot justify the anguish and death in the absence of medical care. Yet this is not to say it is not important for doctors and health workers to acquire new skills.
In fact, I can think of no other profession where knowledge and continuous learning, especially the use of information and communication technology (ICT), is crucial.
The problem comes about, however, when e-health projects are perceived as technology issues rather than a medical solution. Even with state-of-the-art equipment, we still need a nurse's caring hands.
Quite often, technology is pursued because it is new and fancy, and not because there is a compelling need and appropriateness. Computerising the health records saves the staff and patients lots of time which would otherwise go to waste where files are searched manually.
It would also be helpful if all doctors had access to networking and information sharing platforms. The modern physician has great tools of trade. Websites such as www.medline.com give journals and publications with invaluable information on new discoveries, developments, online prescriptions and even patents in the medical world.
But costly satellite-based systems such as the Geographical Information System (GIS), which can be used to deliver digital maps of health facilities, among other useful information, may not be appropriate, at least in our part of the world, unless it is deployed to serve other areas as well, such as agriculture, water and schools.
It is not uncommon to see projects worth millions of shillings go to waste because someone was not careful enough to critically look at the possible consequences of deploying some system.
It is better to start off with low-tech solutions that easily make a business case and then scale up. The work is not done when we have installed computers. The tool is a means to an end, and workers must be trained on computers and the internet.
The East African Community recently held a workshop in Nairobi to take stock of the ongoing e-health initiatives in the region and internationally. Most organisations these days take time to find how best to leverage technology because it works for everyone. Affordable connectivity and existing technologies like the radio and the mobile phone can be integrated to enhance regional e-health initiatives.
E-health is one of the priority areas to be implemented under the EAC Development Strategy 2006-2010. It is prudent to have a regional effort since health is increasingly becoming a crossborder concern. The case of SARS and the Rift Valley fever remind us that the adage, no man is an island, applies to our times.
The genetic structures of the peoples of East Africa are not diverse, and most of them are Bantus. The Oromo of Ethiopia have similarities with the Kalenjin of Kenya, while the Luo have brothers and sisters in Southern Sudan.
Economically, we can relate because there is no great diversity and therefore it is easy to set standards and set up technologies since everything is new to everyone. Even the pathogens are not diverse. The HIV 1 strain is prevalent and not the HIV 2 which is common in West Africa.
The road to an integrated regional health programme is not going to be easy though. The users (doctors) must buy into the initiatives being put forward, and there must be an elaborate training and awareness programmes to stem institutionalised bureaucracy and anti-change attitudes.
In implementing online systems efforts must be made not to overprotect data like the way some developed countries do. Privacy online, though important, can be a bottleneck to success.
Studies have shown that most breaches of security do not occur online. On the contrary, it is normally administrative flaws such as files being left exposed in offices or unshredded waste paper dropping off garbage trucks.
With the migration of doctors to the greener pastures of the Western world, technology will be the saviour of overworked medical staff in hospitals.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Andrew Limo
Quelle/Source: AllAfrica , 31.03.2007
