Monitoring diseases across borders: African regional integrative information systems.
In African countries, communicable diseases remain the chief cause of a heavy disease burden. Regional economic, political and social integration bring new challenges in the management of these diseases, many of which are treatable. Information Communication Technology (ICT) applied through electronic health systems has the potential to strengthen healthcare service delivery and disease surveillance within these countries. This paper discusses the importance of well-defined e-Health strategies within countries and, in addition, proposes that countries within regions collaborate in planning for health information exchange across borders. It is suggested that particular attention be paid to technical and data standards enabling interoperability, and also to issues of security, patient privacy and governance.
Simbini
Tungamirirai
T
Center for the Evaluation of Public Health Interventions-OASIS, Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. simbinit@gmail.com
Foster
Rosemary
R
Nesara
Paul
P
Hullin Lucay Cossio
Carola
C
D000349:Africa; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D018511:Systems Integration