health

Mobile money has been hailed as a possible solution to the problem of financial inclusion and can be a solution to many challenges, such as money laundering and praedial larceny.

But mobile money also fits in very well with health technology as it can enable the use of, and broaden access to, several health-care services that would not otherwise be available to many persons.

The first thing we have to make clear is that mobile money is not a generic term.

A few weeks ago, I attended the annual Health Information Management Systems Conference in Orlando, Florida (HIMSS17).

This was my second year, and apart from my company being the only Jamaican company represented among hundreds of the best technology companies in the world, I was quite excited when I visited the various booths and saw the very impressive offerings.

Health is by far one of the most important assets we can have as individuals. If we do not have good health, we pretty much have nothing.

Mahatma Gandhi rightfully stated, "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, and the effect they have had on the population not just in Jamaica but worldwide, signals to us that we need a revolution in health to arrest this problem.

Very soon, seriously ill Jamaicans will be able to stay in bed and use their smartphones to get home delivery of their medication from the pharmacy.

It will even get better when the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) gets connected to the electronic hub, and individuals who leave the hospital, but still need medical attention, can stay at home and get the same attention without having to move a leg.

Tech company Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) is hoping to tap government and private sector clientele for its new electronic hospital management system, which it wants to roll out nationally.

The National Patient Information System (NPIS) will first be tested at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

AIS has made its pitch to the Government and is now awaiting feedback on whether the plan will be considered for the island's 25 hospitals and 300 clinics, said Chairman and CEO Doug Halsall.

Local tech solutions company Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) has partnered with an India-based company, Suvarna Techno Soft Private Limited to implement an information and management system at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The hospital embarked on a plan to fully digitise and revamp its current technology platform on May 1, through a US$1-million investment, and expects to complete it by the end of the year.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many pundits have stated that the future of healthcare is virtual care. The beginning of this was demonstrated during that time when the demand for telemedicine increased exponentially. The circumstances of the pandemic – the high admission rates at health facilities and limitations on the movement of people – made it a necessity.

Since then, more people have been opting for this solution which allows them to seek care regardless of geographic location and without having to leave their homes.

October 21, 2022

Health information technology is critical to the success of healthcare financing, according to Director of Health Applications at Advanced Integrated Systems, Shekar Sanumpudi.

Mr. Sanumpudi was speaking at the 14th annual Caribbean Conference on National Health Financing Initiatives, held in Antigua and Barbuda, from October 19-21, 2022.

The conference is being held under the theme “Confronting the Financial Challenges of COVID-19 and the Unfinished Universal Coverage Agenda.”