Telematics for health and disabled and elderly people The proceedings of a conference on "Telematics for health and disabled and elderly people" held in Midrand, South Africa, from 16 to 18 May 1996 have recently been published. The conference was organized by the Club de Bruxelles and the South African Medical Research Council, ... The proceedings of a conference on "Telematics for health and disabled and elderly people" held in Midrand, South Africa, from 16 to 18 May 1996 have recently been published. The conference was organized by the Club de Bruxelles and the South African Medical Research Council, with the support of the European Commission's Telematics Applications specific RTD programme and the South African Ministry of Health. The conference covered applications of telematics in health, in situations ranging from some of the most disadvantaged to the most privileged. Many of the participants came from poor regions where few clinics have either electricity or water, and fewer have telephones. The conference showed that the basic user needs are much the same everywhere. It also recognized the central importance of information. Speakers at the conference came from both Europe and Africa, and represented a wide range of interests and experience in health telematics. Sessions and workshops addressed a number of topics, including: - Health planning and management; - Electronic patient records; - Telemedicine; - Integration of disabled and elderly people; - Data security, confidentiality and standards; - Education and training; - Regional health sector cooperation.
