Going Digital to Transform Health Systems
Growing numbers of experts believe that eHealth—the innovative application of emerging information and communications technology in health systems—will fuel the next breakthrough in health systems improvement. Recognizing both the promise and the challenges of these new technologies, the Rockefeller Foundation has launched an effort to identify new methods of using eHealth to improve health systems, with a spotlight on low-resource settings.
eHealth is 'a ray of light on the horizon for the health and equity challenges that plague humanity.'
-- Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the launch of the eHealth Call to Action
eHealth resources, including everything from mobile devices and e-learning tools to electronic health records and information-gathering software, can enable immense leaps in quality of care. For example, a nurse in a remote village—through her laptop and mobile phone—can now access previously unavailable information on the world’s best treatments and can track and treat her patients using comprehensive electronic health records.
The Foundation is helping to broaden the use of eHealth by supporting the development of public-private partnerships, new capabilities, and best practices for interoperability, privacy and security.
Achieving Results
A key milestone in the Foundation’s effort to improve health systems was the month-long Making the eHealth Connection: Global Partnerships, Local Solutions conference series in 2008.
Conference participants from around the world shared success stories and lessons learned about projects already underway, from telemedicine networks in Bangladesh and e-pharmacy projects in Malaysia to low-cost, sustainable electronic records for HIV/AIDS patients in Kenya.
Call to Action
Through the signing of the Rockefeller Foundation eHealth Call to Action—which is now being taken to global institutions, individuals, and governments with the power to change eHealth policy and practice—eHealth conference participants committed themselves to supporting the following:
- Timely, consensus-based global agenda-setting
- A rational policy process for eHealth
- Adequate and coordinated funding
- Collaborative networks and action platforms
- Knowledge-sharing and capacity building
- Interoperable eHealth demonstration projects
Join the more than 240 individuals who have signed the Bellagio eHealth Call to Action.
