systems

The proposed National Identification System (NIDS) has been the source of contentious debate for the last few weeks.

Jamaica is actually late in the game in providing some sort of system of this type to ensure a proper database of its citizens, which will improve the country's ability to put in place effective structures and programmes that will adequately capture the needs of the population.

The United States, for example, can track and manage its welfare services through the social-security number issued to every citizen at birth and kept until death.

October was celebrated as breast cancer awareness month and it brought into focus the very long-standing and urgent matter of the effect of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the Jamaican, Caribbean and world population.

Although most deaths each year are from these diseases, I do not get the feeling that people generally take the issue serious enough.

At a recent event, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton indicated that it will cost the country more than $70 billion in the next 15 years to treat persons with NCDs.

Health care costs have the capacity to render persons bankrupt and is an expense that Government and all of us will have an interest in keeping as low as possible.

The United States (US) is a great example of how high health care costs can have a negative effect on individuals and health seeking behaviour.

In this digital tech-centric world, data is king and it is time we, as a country, start mining data to underpin critical decisions. 

At its most basic, this is described as analysing a large amount of data to determine patterns and trends that may exist, with a view to finding solutions, forecasting and predicting future possibilities. 

Data mining can be one of the most profound tools used in any industry that seeks to understand clients and customers’ needs, wants, dislikes and any other pattern that they may establish. 

Doug Halsall, chief executive officer of Advanced Integrated Systems, is pointing to the long-touted establishment of a local medical marijuana industry as an opportunity to invest in and increase much-needed resources in education.

The medical marijuana industry is an opportunity to invest in and increase much needed resources to education. This from Doug Halsall, CEO, Advanced Integrated Systems, (AIS), who indicated that this is why he is in full support of the development of the local medical marijuana industry.

I remember back in late 2009, the National Blood Transfusion Service ran out of blood bags and had only expired stock that they could not use to collect and store blood.

Back then, it became quite a major issue primarily because, as a country, we have always had a problem with collecting sufficient blood in voluntary donations to satisfy the needs of our sick and those requiring emergency care.

When I heard the announcement from the National Health Fund (NHF) late last year that the agency would be moving towards putting things in place for the development of a National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) I was a little sceptical.

After all, administration after administration had said this very same thing but nothing ever came to fruition.

I was heartened when I recently saw that the NHF requested submissions for a consultant to examine and begin the process.

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.