eHealth could play a crucial role in controlling epidemics such as polio and dengue fever, through an effective surveillance system. Every day, across the world, countries are making improvements in their health systems as a direct benefit of eHealth technologies. e-Health has evolved as an important innovative subject for enhancing the proficiency of health sector, these views were expressed by experts at a ‘Promotional Seminar for the Use of Information & Communication Technologies for Health’.
The 2-day Promotional Seminar was organized by COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad in collaboration with World Health Organisation today at a local hotel in Karachi. It was attended by Medical Practitioners, Doctors, Public Health Professional, HMIS Managers, IT professionals.
Prof. Dr. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor, DUHS & President PMDC speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion said that eHealth could play a crucial role in controlling epidemics such as polio and dengue fever, through an effective surveillance system. Every day, across the world, countries are making improvements in their health systems as a direct benefit of eHealth technologies. eHealth refers to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in healthcare services. Dow University of Health Sciences is working towards adopting new teaching methodologies for undergraduate, postgraduate students and as part of continuous medical education. For this purpose, a new e-learning cell has been established at Dow University Ojha Campus. The e-Learning serves are guidepost for applied online teaching, as well as an information hub for the latest instructional technology.
Dr. Shafaat A. Khan, Head/Health Informatics Department, COMSATS in his welcome address said that over the past many years e-Health has evolved as an important innovative subject for enhancing the proficiency of health sector. Now a day, there are several thematic areas where eHealth initiatives are now being successfully deployed which areas like telemedicine, electronic health records, m-Health, e-Learning, use of technologies for health surveys and ICT based community initiatives. e-Health is currently evolved as one of the important areas of engagement for WHO with its member states. In the recent past WHO is mandated for play a coordinating role for the new Global Initiative for Commission for Information and Accountability (COIA) – Where e-Health is one of the seven thematic areas where W.H.O is engaged with priority countries, including Pakistan.
Dr. S. M. Mursalin, WHO-HIS/e-Health Coordinator informed that WHO had recognized eHealth as the way to achieve cost-effective and secure use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for health and related fields and urged its member states to consider drawing up long-term strategic plans for developing and implementing eHealth services and infrastructure in their health sectors.
Other speakers who spoke at the Seminar includes, Prof. Sajjad Mohsin, Dean, Faculty of Information Sciences & Techonology, COMSATS, Dr. Shagufta Zareen, HRIS Focal Person, WHO, Prof. Shams Nadeem Alam, Professor of Surgery & Director Medical Education, Dr. Zakiuddin Ahmed, President Healthcare Paradigm & Medical Director Pharmevo DUHS, Syed Mubashar Junaid, e-Health Coordinator, WHO, Prof. Dr. Aqeel Kidwai of COMSATS, Prof. Masood Jawaid of DUHS, Ms. Saleema Gulzar of AKU, Dr. Sahahid Ansari of COMSATS, Imran Shaikh of WHO and Dr. Faheem Ali of AMAN Foundation.