The Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC), the Ethiopian ICT Development Agency (EICTDA) and the Ministry of Health are holding a workshop from 9-10 March, 2006 on ICTs and Health aimed at laying the foundations for the introduction of a comprehensive eHealth strategy and programme for Ethiopia.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Debretsion G. Michael, Director General of the Ethiopian ICT Development Authority, EICTDA said, “we need to create a platform for stakeholders and a national e-health committee to coordinate and mobilize resources and funding for future sustainability of the sector.” He said and pointed out that what Ethiopia needs "is an e-health policy that supports better infrastructure, skilled human resources and wireless technologies in the country".

Also addressing the meeting was the Minister for Health, Mr. Tewdrose Adhanom, who underscored the need to address the challenges in this sector. “Ethiopia has low numbers of physicians and telemedicine would make it easier for busy medical professionals to be involved in life-long learning with ease.
He cautioned however that there is need to improve the skills mix, and technological awareness by both practitioners and patients alike. “Health care centers, academia and research institutions need to work together to make this a reality,” he said, adding that the sector requires a multi-disciplinary approach – “its not the problem of medical professionals alone”.

Speaking on behalf of ECA, Ms. Aida Opoku-Mensah, Officer-in-Charge, Development Information Services Division (DISD) offered a global perspective on e-health and pointed out that the meeting was timely in light of the recently concluded World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which urged leaders of the world “to commit themselves to enhancing ICT access across various sectors of development”. “Following the Summit, countries need to develop and integrate ICTs various sectors and in the health sector they would assist in improving healthcare delivery in Africa”. She said.

She outlined the main challenges facing Africa in this sector, such as low levels of life expectancy and high infant and maternal mortality rates as well as epidemics and the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS. “Africa needs to enhance its health administration and management through medical information systems at all levels, she said, adding that through ICTs skilled diagnosis, linking health centers, delivery services and medical transport to patients would be greatly enhanced and “would achieve more efficient and affordable health care”. It would also facilitate early warnings of plagues and infectious diseases.” She said.

She pointed to best practices in Africa, such as the use of inexpensive handheld computers (PDAs) for diagnosis, medical reference, patient management and disease surveys. “In Uganda, PDAs are being used by medical practitioners to conduct an epidemiological survey on malaria, while in Kenya, the they are used to collect field survey information and for storage of medical reference tools and texts.”

“However, more needs to be done in training users to use them effectively, adequate technical support is needed and the question of regular power supply needs to be addressed.

She pointed out to the invaluable role digitally available health content plays in Ghana, where 800 mothers in five communities have been targeted for information on breastfeeding in local languages. “Beyond that, improved data collection mechanisms have reinforced the ongoing health sector reform in Ghana’s Ministry of health.” She said.

She pledged ECA’s continued commitment to capacity building, development of assessment methods and standards and tools to guide the best use of ICT for health and noted that ECA is committed to providing technical assistance to facilitate health sector reforms and Ethiopia’s decentralization efforts and cautioned for the need to address ethical issues such as privacy and safeguarding the integrity of information systems, through e-health strategies.

“Legal issues are also emerging and many e-health applications are currently unregulated, unlike other aspects of health systems, she said, adding that legislation covering confidentiality, privacy, access and liability is necessary, particularly with the transfer of information across national borders and within regions of countries. “Conflicts between domestic and international law need to be resolved.”