20161214 EHA 2016 Report - eHealth News ZA€¦ · Towards eHealth Excellence in Southern Africa...

THE REPORT

SOUTHERN AFRICA

The eHealthALIVE Partners wish to thank of�cials of the South African Department of Health for the support and contributions that helped to

make eHealthALIVE2016 a success.

1. Introduction

2. OvervieweHealthALIVE 2016 was about showcasing eHealth excellence in Africa, debating the challenges, embracing innovation and learning how every one of us can put eHealth into action to improve health and healthcare for all.

Healthy Africans is eHealth’s most important goal in Africa. Achieving it needs eHealth to support health professionals to help them transform healthcare. Africans can be healthy and while we all know of the considerable challenges, eHealth is a powerful tool to help Africans be healthy.

“That’s why we’re doing this."

The goal of healthy Africans can be realised if eHealth and other technologies are harnessed to re-engineer healthcare to revolve around patients and communities. Then these communities and their health workers can leverage the information gathered at every patient contact to improve outcomes and measure service delivery usefully and meaningfully.

eHealth has numerous roles in transforming healthcare. It is a practical tool for delivery of communication; a driver for necessary changes in policy and it supports healthcare workers in carrying out their work and improving their job satisfaction.

Challenges for Africa’s healthcare workforce, such as skills shortages and overburdened facilities, show that if we do not enable more productivity and engage the people who are central to healthcare transformation then Africa’s health systems will struggle even more as Africa’s population keeps expanding. Its health systems already face a growing problem caring for people and helping them be healthy, so it is vital that eHealth empowers healthcare professionals, and is a component of building capacity of the workforce and retaining its essential skills.

“eHealthALIVE 2016 was a unique forum for stakeholders in health systems transformation to come together to engage on real-world practical issues and �nd opportunities to bring about tangible change - a platform for engagement we hope to continue to build year on year.”

Over two days, 6 and 7 September, some 250 delegates were at eHealthALIVE 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was an opportunity to understand eHealth in a practical, on-the-ground way and harness the collective experience built up over the last decade to accelerate the goal of transforming healthcare for the good of patients and the people who deliver health services.

Presentations were drawn from eHealth initiatives and programmes from Namibia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the East African Community. These were supplemented by master classes in interoperability, a deep dive into MomConnect and presentation of multiple District Health Information System (DHIS) use cases.

Bringing these together revealed some common, important eHealth themes. The collective eHealth initiatives offer a very promising trajectory for Southern Africa and beyond.

“You are the African eHealth leaders whose insights and experiences ensure that initiatives across the continent will have a big impact on the health of our people.”

Towards eHealth Excellence in Southern Africa

www.ehealthalive.co.za-1-

Taryn Springhall, eHeathNews Editor

Prof. Peter Nyasulu, eHealthALIVE Chairperson,Executive Director at African Centre for eHealth Excellence

Dr Sean Broomhead, Chairperson atAfrican Centre for eHealth Excellence

3.1 Updates on regional eHealth initiatives

COUNTRY

South Africa

South Africa

Swaziland

Director: National Health Information SystemCluster: Health Information, Research, Monitoring & Evaluation

Chief Operating Of�cer NDoH

Uganda Assistant Commissioner of Health Services and member of Acfee Advisory Board

Zimbabwe Health Permanent Secretary and Chairperson of Acfee Advisory Board

Health Permanent Secretary and member of Acfee Advisory Board

OFFICIAL DESIGNATION

Updates covered perspectives from government, NGOs and private companies. The status of key initiatives was presented and discussed, including MomConnect and NurseConnect and various DHIS initiatives being implemented by HISP-SA and other regional HISP organisations. Perspectives were provided from leaders shaping initiatives by HelloDoctor, Mobenzi, Mezzanine and others; and Sri Lanka’s proven initiative that builds capacity for doctors to lead and implement eHealth.

The updates con�rm a considerable eHealth effort underway, with strong organisations and individual pioneers, and eHealth leaders, which taken together provide a �rm, realistic foundation for eHealth in Southern Africa. Use cases were identi�ed as essential for moving integration and interoperability ahead. The DHIS workshop provided use case examples from Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.

Discussions dealt with a range of issues that affect the success of an eHealth initiative and its ultimate socio-economic impact. Hot topics included business and licensing models with the importance of understanding the full implications of a choice being emphasised.

3.2 Plans to advance eHealth

Country and regional representatives described their policies, strategies, plans and programmes.

www.ehealthalive.co.za

3. eHealthALIVE 2016’s main themesThere were three main types of presentations:

• Updates on regional eHealth initiatives • Plans to advance eHealth • A technical focus on interoperability


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REGIONAL COMMUNITY

EAC eHealth and Informatics Of�ce EAC Secretariat and member of Acfee Advisory Board

Mr Daniel Murenzi

OFFICIAL DESIGNATION

Dr Gail Andrews

Mr Mbulelo Cabuko

Dr Simon Zwane

Dr Eddie Mukooyo

Dr Gerald Gwinji

3.3 Technical focus on interoperability

With interoperability a permanent eHealth challenge, the masterclass provided valuable insights into some of its main principles and their application. Two perspectives were from Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine - Clinical Terms (SNOMED – CT). An important issue raised was the extent to which South Africa’s National Health Normative Standards Framework (HNSF) can keep abreast of changing clinical practices, medical innovation and technology.

NDoH and CSIR described South Africa’s HNSF, its interoperability programme. It sees interoperability extending beyond information to include users and organisations.

A key observation was the importance of strengthening eHealth strategies and plans to help meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to be targeted about identifying and dealing directly with eHealth’s numerous challenges and constraints.



4. Lessons learned at eHealthALIVE 20164.1 Generic lessons

4.2 Speci�c lessons

Discussions during eHealthALIVE 2016 sessions revealed common lessonsthat are relevant to most eHealth initiatives. These include:

• Identify clear criteria for measuring eHealth and taking investment decisions

• Deal with major eHealth constraints and inhibitors• Ensure affordability• Develop eHealth leadership• Build the skills to convert eHealth strategies into action• Improve high speed broadband connectivity for data quality

improvement• mHealth can improve health outcomes• The combination of remoteness, poverty and poor connectivity

are signi�cant obstacles to realising eHealth’s bene�ts• There are opportunities for eHealth to support using data

for research

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“Southern Africa, like the rest of the African

continent, is in need of innovative approaches

for enhancing the provision of adequate

healthcare to its citizens.”

Dr Gail Andrews,Chief Operating Of�cer NDoH

Other lessons emerging from the event, speci�c to particular initiatives, are listed below.

• South Africa's interoperability strategy, HNSF, extends beyond data to include people, a very forward-thinking approach. It is a long-term programme that will provide an essential foundation for the country’s National Health Insurance plan. It is a considerable and demanding programme that provides a valuable benchmark for eHealth in other African countries. There’s an essential role of use cases in eHealth, especially in interoperability.

• Engaging clinicians effectively needs a structure and role for them, like Sri Lanka's MSc model. It enables healthcare professionals to contribute constructively, and is essential for success.

• Building human capacity can learn from Sri Lanka's model extended beyond doctors. It needs an agreed curriculum and �nancial support for healthcare professionals to participate.

• Existing eHealth data can already be used to good effect and lays an executive and clinical foundation for using more sophisticated eHealth, as at the Frere Hospital. It is important to ensure bottom up and top down integration.

4.3 How delegates bene�ted

There are numerous take-aways including learning how to:• Fix current eHealth challenges and support extended data use, such as analytics and research, through

interoperability masterclasses• Develop use cases for eHealth initiatives• Design a structured, formal eHealth capacity-building programme for healthcare professionals• Emphasise the need to expand eHealth’s role in direct and clinical benefits for patients and health workers• Set an eHealth balance between managing reporting and data for patients and healthcare professionals• Explore benchmarks for eHealth strategies and plans



• mHealth’s two big challenges are scaling up mHealth and proving its impact to show it is worth its investment. It’s important that these are in place at the beginning of a programme. MomConnect and NurseConnect lessons learned include:

Providing direct information to patients and health workers is a top priority for eHealth and its mHealth component

Time needed for continuous development can have medium-term horizons

Shows how one project leads on to others as an eHealth dynamic

• SDGs are an eHealth priority and need a balance with other eHealth priorities. It means integrating their information needs, so interoperability is essential.

• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) lessons include:

eHealth rarely conforms to its plans, so modi�cations are needed during implementation and operation

It is essential to identify corrective action needed, and make the adjustments

Informs other eHealth programmes

Construct de�nitions of eHealth’s �tness for purpose

5. Moving eHealth forward

eHea

lth S

trat

egie

s

• Set a realistic timescale o Is �ve years about right? o Include a focus on implementation and

bene�ts realisation o Ensure that patients’ and health workers’

information needs, SDGs and management reporting are included

• Focus on top ten causes of mortality• Support new treatment and prevention

techniques• Use eHealth to support analytics and research

Five main themes emerging from eHealthALIVE 2016 are eHealth strategies, eHealth governance, interoperability, M&E and building human capacity.

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“Integration and interoperability are

key for government to derive utility value

from eHealth tools.”Mr Mbulelo Cabuko, Director at

National Health Information System

THEME LESSON



“MomConnect is a messaging service

aimed at empowering pregnant women to

take responsibility for their health & their

babies.”Dr Peter Barron,

Technical Assistant, NDoH

eHea

lthG

ove

rnan

ce • Develop effective, practical, affordable models• Implement good governance to support Africa’s

expanding eHealth• Include in eHealth Strategies and implementation

plans

THEME LESSON

Inte

rop

erab

ility

• Include mHealth, social media, Big Data, analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT)

• Ensure that data’s available for research• Set interoperability priorities, plans and

sustainable timescales• Develop eHealth use cases as part of a long-term

sequence and plan • Develop eHealth architectures• Ensure interoperability supports research• Include patient identi�ers

Mo

nito

ring

and

Eva

luat

ion

(M&

E) • De�ne how it is to be undertaken

• Ensure that it leads to action• Specify how it can inform eHealth plans and

business cases• Make sure it improves bene�ts realisation

eHea

lth H

uman

Cap

ital D

evel

op

men

t • Identify priorities• Con�rm the resources available and their

sustainability• Design and implement formal, such as with

educational institutions, and informal, structured training and development

• Include eHealth Leadership Development• Specify how eHealth capacity building extends

across the health system

Acfee (http://acfee.org/) will table these themes at the annual African eHealth Forum, where its Advisory Board re�ects on the implications for African countries, sets priorities and plans interventions.

7. Acknowledgements7.1 Schedule of presentations and presenters

eHealthALIVE is a success because of numerous contributions made by presenters and participants. For full details see www.ehealthalive.co.za

7.2 Event partnerseHealthALIVE organisers appreciate the generous contribution made by USAID and PEPFAR, through MEASURE Evaluation SIFSA.



“With eHealth's capacity to collect, analyse, and present health data more ef�ciently, it is a critical tool for enhanced monitoring and evaluation of health programs. This is a priority for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and led to the funding of a program like MEASURE Evaluation.

A platform such as eHealthALIVE offers countries an opportunity to share experiences in implementation of their eHealth strategies, which can catalyse innovative improvements in the

quality of health services, reduce costs, improve equity of access, and empower clients.

The Associate Award in South Africa, MEASURE Evaluation SIFSA, is a proud partner to eHealthALIVE and looks forward to meaningful engagement on eHealth topics and collaborations between countries in Africa that can be sustained beyond the conference.”

Derek Kunaka, Chief of Party at MEASURE Evaluation SIFSA

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6. What to expect at eHealthALIVE 2017eHealthALIVE 2017 will build from the experiences and content of the 2016 event. It will provide:

• Insights and expert opinion on current and future eHealth challenges and opportunities• Direct learning from masterclasses, so much more than a conference• Tangible takeaways to help you strengthen and support your eHealth programme or project• Learning from presentations and delegates contributions• Key insights from eHealth projects already on the ground • A better understanding of the current eHealth environment in Southern Africa.

Contact the organisers to discuss sponsorship and exhibition opportunities.

Mrs Lesley Dobson Acfee International Relations Director

[email protected]

Ms Taryn SpringhalleHeathNews Editor

[email protected]



The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the US Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum. PEPFAR is driven by a shared responsibility among donor and partner nations and others to make smart investments to save lives.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead US Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realise their potential. US foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America's interests while improving lives in the developing world. USAID carries out US foreign policy by promoting broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the US, and fosters good will abroad.

The MEASURE Evaluation Strategic Information for South Africa (MEval-SIFSA) Project supports the Department of Health (DoH) at national, provincial, and district levels to improve strategic information for evidence-based management of HIV and related health programmes. MEval-SIFSA seeks to ensure that the health system in South Africa produces useful and high-quality information that contributes to sustainable policy, planning, and programmatic decision making. MEvalSIFSA is a �ve-year project (June 2013 to September 2018) funded by USAID.

Acfee is a non-pro�t organisation that believes in eHealth’s role in creating healthier Africans. Acfee supports health systems strengthening and transformation by developing eHealth capacity and leadership throughout Africa. Acfee achieves this through its Discover, Learn, Lead initiatives that help to move their initiatives forward through learning, teaching, research, publications, leadership and partnerships. eHealth News Africa is Acfee’s online daily news digest and information resource for African eHealth professionals.

eHealthNews (EHN) is SA’s leading source of eHealth news and opinion. EHN is a reputable, independent platform founded on strong media ethics, objectivity and thorough insight of the eHealth industry, locally and abroad. EHN’s reach of eHealth and healthcare professionals, tech entrepreneurs and decision makers in the public and private sector continues to grow as they deliver on their goal to reduce the silos that exists within healthcare and stimulate the market by sharing relevant, interesting news and related content.

7.3 Event sponsors

Organisers appreciate the additional contributions made by the following sponsors to help make the event a success:

SOUTHERN AFRICA

HISP South Africa is a Section 21 not-for-pro�t non-governmental organisation (NPO/NGO) that specialises in the development and maintenance of health information systems - a member of the global HISP network. Since its establishment in 2003, HISP-SA has been innovating and implementing both paper-based and computerised systems for primary health care (PHC) and hospitals, mainly in resource constrained settings.

HealthEnabled is a non-pro�t organisation that activates effective integrated digital health systems and supportive health policies in low- and middle-income countries. Based in South Africa, HealthEnabled works with governments, health implementers, donors, and health experts to ensure that digital health systems are sustainable, aligned with national policies, and suited to the local context.

SAHIA was established in 1982 to promote the use of informatics in the delivery of healthcare services in South Africa. The organisation is a member of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and its membership is drawn from people working in the public and private health sectors, as well as at academic institutions.

Health-e News started in 1998 and is South Africa’s award-winning television and print health news service producing news and in-depth analysis for national media. Syndicated nationally via clients such as the Daily Maverick, SABC, eTV and the Independent Newspapers, Health-e News brings the latest in health news articles, videos and TV documentaries to hundreds of thousands of South Africans each month.

Bizcommunity.com is South Africa and Africa’s leading B2B website bringing a daily mix of original and quality advertising, marketing and media news coverage to a diverse audience of business drivers, opinion makers, recruiters and job seekers with the aim of building, showcasing and promoting the dynamic business communities of Africa across 20 commercial sectors – from marketing and media to retail, health, agriculture, �nance, construction and more.

Mobenzi provides technology and professional services to organisations involved in research, data collection, logistics and community service delivery. Mobenzi platforms have been successfully applied in a broad range of industries including healthcare (mHealth), research, agriculture, education, environment, �nancial services and retail. Mobenzi solutions are deployed in over 40 countries, by many of the world's leading universities, development agencies, donors, and private & public sector entities.

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter - great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients.

20161214 EHA 2016 Report - eHealth News ZA€¦ · Towards eHealth Excellence in Southern Africa...

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