Ehealth Experts Convene for the AeHIN
December 17, 2011 8:13 am | by Aliyah Lou Evangelista | Posted in News
Dr. Alvin B. Marcelo, eHealth Consultant of the National Telehealth Center leaded the Planning Workshop for the Asia eHealth Information Network
Bangkok, Thailand-eHealth experts in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam come together to strengthen country-wide health information systems and lay strategic plans for a the Asia eHealth Information Network. The workshop is a response from recent eHealth initiatives spearheaded by the World Health Organization and partners this 2011.
Dr. Alvin Marcelo, Professor of Surgery and eHealth consultant of the National Telehealth Center leaded the writeshop drafting raison d’ etre and plans for the regional network. In the morning session of the workshop, participating eHealth experts presented status and current trends of eHealth systems in their countries. Significant inputs from the recent HIS (Health Informatics System Leadership) Forum held in Manila were brought up.
eHealth experts from Cambodia reported that the number of health facilities submitting timely reports have increased by 32% upon government’s support to their Health Information Management System. Political support to HIS are also increasing in Thailand with the creation of the National Health Information Committee (NHIC) and in Vietnam with their Ministry of Health prioritizing issues on HIS interoperability in their health sector.
Participating eHealth experts fillout meta cards to come-up with the core values of the regional eHealth newtwork. In the picture is Dr. Mean Reatanak Sambath, eHealth expert from Cambodia
In Indonesia, Anis Fuad, eHealth expert from Universitas Gadja Mada, expressed that though IT use in hospitals for delivering care remains a challenge, HIS initiatives in Indonesia are not derailed. November of this year, he said they have started workshops on OpenMRS and have conducted the Indonesia Health Informatics Forum.
Dr. Jai Mohan, professor of Health Informatics & Pediatrics in the International Medical University explained that Malaysia’s eHealth systems focus more on engaging the private sectors to improve their HIS.
In the afternoon, eHealth experts learn from closely related networks such the International Open Source Committee (IOSN), Pacific Health Information Network (PHIN), Joint Learning Network, PANACeA, Virtual Leadership Program Development, ISFTeH, and WHO ITU. Plans for the year 2012 are set including how to tap partners and other institutions.
Mean Reatanak Sambath, MD, MPH (Cambodia), Daorirk Sinthuvanich MD, Yolsilp Suchonwanich MD, Asanee Kawtrakul PhD, (Thailand), Posrtia Fernadez-Marcelo and Dr. Alvin B. Marcelo (Philippines), But Saben (Cambodia), Professor Dato' Dr Jai Mohan (Malaysia), Assoc Prof Dr. Phuong Nguyen Hoang (Vietnam), Boonchai Kijsanayotin MD., PhD. (Thailand) and Anis Fuad (Indonesia)
