Assessing the development process of the eHealth strategy for South Africa against the recommendations of the WHO/ITU National eHealth Strategy Toolkit.

Rosemary Foster

Rosemary Foster eHealth Strategy and Policy Division, Medical Research Council Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and Information Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Keywords: eHealth, eHealth strategy, eHealth strategy toolkit, eHealth vision, eHealth planning, health information systems

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to establish the extent to which processes followed in the development of the South African eHealth Strategy conform to the recommendations provided in the National eHealth Strategy Toolkit published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2012.

Method: For each of the steps recommended by the Toolkit, the processes followed in the development of the South African eHealth Strategy are rated against the recommended processes.

Results: Overall, the processes followed in the development of the South African eHealth Strategy conform well to the recommended processes. Weaknesses were found with respect to management and resourcing of the development process and the engagement of multisectoral stakeholders.

Conclusions: In general the processes conformed well to the recommendations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Rosemary Foster, eHealth Strategy and Policy Division, Medical Research Council Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and Information Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

PhD

References

World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union. 2012. National eHealth Strategy Toolkit. Available at: http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-d/opb/str/D-STR-E_HEALTH.05-2012-PDF-E.pdf Accessed 15 April 2013.

Department of Health, South Africa. 2012. eHealth Strategy South Africa 2012-2016. Available at: http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/stratdocs/2012/eHealth_Strategy_South_Africa_2012-2016.pdf a,ccessed 15 April 2013.

National Department of Health, South Africa. Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement for Outcome 2: A long and Health Life for All South Africans. 2010. Available at: http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/MediaLib/Downloads/Home/Ministries/DepartmentofPerformanceMonitoringandEvaluation3/TheOutcomesApproach/Health%20Sector%20NSDA.pdf accessed 15 April 2013.

National Department of Health, South Africa. Strategic Plan 2010/11-2012/13. Available at: http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/2D5ED792-878C-4371-9575-8281A96BBB26/00023294.pdf uaccessed 15 April 2013.

NHS Scotland. eHealth Strategy 2008-2011. Available at: http://www.scot.nhs.uk/eHealth%20Strategy%202008-11%20final.pdf accessed 22 July 2013.

NHS Scotland. eHealth Strategy 2011-2017. Available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/09103110/9 accessed 22July 2013.

Canada Health Infoway. EHRS-Blueprint. (V2) (Full). Available at: https://www.infoway-inforoute.com/index.php/resources/technical-documents/architecture?view=docman accessed 22 July 2013.