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The case for eHealth
Today eHealth is changing health care delivery and is at
the core of responsive health systems. Whether to
deliver care, deploy personnel, conduct research or
support humanitarian action, at every level and in every
country the business of health relies on information and
communication and, increasingly, on the technologies
that enable it. Technological advances, economic
investment, and social and cultural changes are also
contributing to the expectation that the health sector
must inevitably integrate technology into its way of
doing business. The World Health Organization defines
eHealth as the use of information and communication
technologies (ICT) for health. In its broadest sense,
eHealth is about improving the flow of information,
through electronic means, to support the delivery of
health services and the management of health systems.
The need for national
planning
Experience has shown that harnessing ICT for health
requires strategic and integrated action at the national
level, to make the best use of existing capacity while
providing a solid foundation for investment and
innovation. Establishing the main directions as well as
planning the detailed steps needed are key to achieving
longer-term goals such as health sector efficiency,
reform or more fundamental transformation. Collaboration
between the health and ICT sectors, both public and
private, is central to this effort. As the major United
Nations agencies for health and telecommunications
respectively, the World Health Organization (WHO) and
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have
recognized the importance of collaboration for eHealth
in their global resolutions, which encourage countries
to develop national eHealth strategies: this Toolkit
supports those recommendations. Ministries of health
play a pivotal role, not only in meeting people’s needs
for care and protecting public health, but in preserving
health systems through uncertain times. Ministries of
information technology and telecommunications are key to
development in all spheres, and can make a vital
contribution to the health sector. Common goals and a
predictable ICT environment enable coordinated action:
building consensus on policy, facilitating better use of
shared resources and involvement of the private sector,
and investment in skills and infrastructure to improve
health outcomes.
Purpose and audience
The National eHealth Strategy Toolkit is a resource for
developing or revitalizing a country’s eHealth strategy,
from countries just setting out to those that have
already invested significantly in eHealth. This includes
countries that are seeking to build on promising results
from pilot initiatives, establish foundations for
scaling up eHealth projects, or update strategies to
reflect changing circumstances. The Toolkit can be used
by government health sector leaders in ministries,
departments and agencies who will manage the development
of an eHealth strategy. Its application requires a team
experienced in strategic planning, analysis,
communication and stakeholder engagement.
Overview of the Toolkit
The Toolkit is designed in three
parts, with each part building on the work of the
previous one:
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Part 1: Develops a national
eHealth vision that responds to health and
development goals. Explains why a national approach
is needed, what the plan will achieve, and how it
will be done.
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Part 2: Develops an
implementation roadmap that reflects country
priorities and the eHealth context. Structures
activities over the medium-term, while building a
foundation for the long term.
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Part 3: Establishes a plan
to monitor implementation and manage associated
risks. Shows the progress and the results of
implementation and aids in securing long-term
support and investment.
Each section describes the
activities required, along with practical advice
informed by real-world experience.
Countries can undertake the entire set of activities, or
those specific to their context and constraints.
How theToolkit is used, and the end result, will depend
on a country’s context, priorities and vision.
Toolkit for developing a
National eHealth Strategy
See the Directory of eHealth policies and strategies
at the WHO Global eHealth Observatory for eHealth
website at the following link:
http://www.who.int/goe/policies/en/
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