Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BETTEReHEALTH (Human, technical and political factors for better coordination and support of e-health in Africa)
Período documentado: 2021-01-01 hasta 2022-06-30
eHealth has the potential to improve and increase the accessibility and the efficiency of the health and care services, in particular to remote populations and underserved communities. eHealth services to be successful,
they have to be supported by national governments, who have established eHealth policies and strategies and demonstrate strong ownership of their national eHealth programmes. eHealth programmes will only achieve their objectives, if they are adapted to country needs, are citizen-centered and sustainable through sound public finance management.
Our objective is to inform e-health policymaking towards better health outcomes through a bottom-up evidence-based holistic approach.BETTEReHEALTH consists of four Regional Hubs based in Tunisia, Ghana, Ethiopia and Malawi, already endorsed by each country's Ministry of Health. We are addressing three aspects related to successful e-health: human, technical and public policy factors.
BETTEReHEALTH has also created eHealth solutions and policies registries that be used to identify best-practices and produce useful knowledge regarding e-health implementation. The knowledge produced in registries, together with the input from the other activities is synthesized into an e-health policy roadmaps and will lead to strategic implementation plans for better e-health services for the four countries hosting Regional Hubs, but will also be of high relevance for other African countries.
BETTEReHEALTH is increasing the level of international cooperation in e-health, informing and strengthening end-user communities and policy makers in making the right decisions for the successful implementation of e-health, and is increasing the opportunities for stakeholders in Africa and Europe. The overall aim of better health outcomes through better healthcare accessibility and higher quality.
they have to be supported by national governments, who have established eHealth policies and strategies and demonstrate strong ownership of their national eHealth programmes. eHealth programmes will only achieve their objectives, if they are adapted to country needs, are citizen-centered and sustainable through sound public finance management.
Our objective is to inform e-health policymaking towards better health outcomes through a bottom-up evidence-based holistic approach.BETTEReHEALTH consists of four Regional Hubs based in Tunisia, Ghana, Ethiopia and Malawi, already endorsed by each country's Ministry of Health. We are addressing three aspects related to successful e-health: human, technical and public policy factors.
BETTEReHEALTH has also created eHealth solutions and policies registries that be used to identify best-practices and produce useful knowledge regarding e-health implementation. The knowledge produced in registries, together with the input from the other activities is synthesized into an e-health policy roadmaps and will lead to strategic implementation plans for better e-health services for the four countries hosting Regional Hubs, but will also be of high relevance for other African countries.
BETTEReHEALTH is increasing the level of international cooperation in e-health, informing and strengthening end-user communities and policy makers in making the right decisions for the successful implementation of e-health, and is increasing the opportunities for stakeholders in Africa and Europe. The overall aim of better health outcomes through better healthcare accessibility and higher quality.
During the first 18 months of the project, BETTEReHEALTH has conducted research to identify and assess existing partnerships in eHealth, existing good practices in eHealth, and eHealth research groups and networks on the African continent. This research contributes critical knowledge that assist policymakers in making improved decisions when it comes to planning, funding, and implementing eHealth initiatives.
Moreover, research conducted as part of WP 3 on stakeholders in eHealth and whose interests are considered when developing and implementing eHealth initiatives can contribute to more holistic and informed approaches in future eHealth initiatives. In addition, BeH's research examining the role of the human factor in eHealth in the four African partner countries provides crucial input to policy makers about end users (health care professionals and citizens) and how their needs can better be served in the development and implementation of eHealth tools and systems.
Research and activities in WP 4 such as the assessment of the state of maturity in health information systems, and the evidence-based recommendations for sustainable and trustable eHealth infrastructure in African LLMICs, as well as strategies for scaling up of eHealth systems – are all contributions that can potentially improve awareness of key factors that facilitate secure and sustainable eHealth ecosystems.
Related to eHealth policies, BeH has reviewed existing eHealth policy-documents in the four African partner countries and has embarked upon the complex endeavor of developing recommendations for an eHealth roadmap for African LLMICs. This activities contribute with important evidence on the importance of engaging policymakers at all levels in collaborative commitment to developing long-term, holistic, and systematic planning for national eHealth ecosystems.
Lastly, the communication- and dissemination-activities undertaken as part of WP 6, have been, and are essential in extending the reach and impact of BETTEReHEALTH as well as engaging stakeholders, among them policymakers, in discussions and debates related to research and policymaking on eHealth. The consortium has during the first reporting period (M1-18) engaged in a variety of communication activities at different arenas and platforms. BETTEReHEALTH has an official website and its own online community. The BeH project and the results of project activities and research have been presented at various international conferences; Medical Informatics Europe (May 2021), Africa Telehealth conferences (June 2021), IST-Africa conference (May 2022).
We have also established four Regional Hubs in Tunisia, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Malawi. Each hub has organized their own regional workshop during months M7 and M8. These were virtual or online workshops. In month 17 and 18 two regional hubs (the Northern African and the Eastern African regions) have organized their second workshops – this time in a hybrid format. The other two remaining regional hubs organised their workshops in M19 and M20. The consortium has also organised an international workshop in M12 (in digital format), and were are planning at least one more to promote the cooperation and networking between Europe and Africa.
Finally, we have launched the registries of eHealth solutions and eHealth policies and we are collaborating with the WHO Digital Health Atlas.
Moreover, research conducted as part of WP 3 on stakeholders in eHealth and whose interests are considered when developing and implementing eHealth initiatives can contribute to more holistic and informed approaches in future eHealth initiatives. In addition, BeH's research examining the role of the human factor in eHealth in the four African partner countries provides crucial input to policy makers about end users (health care professionals and citizens) and how their needs can better be served in the development and implementation of eHealth tools and systems.
Research and activities in WP 4 such as the assessment of the state of maturity in health information systems, and the evidence-based recommendations for sustainable and trustable eHealth infrastructure in African LLMICs, as well as strategies for scaling up of eHealth systems – are all contributions that can potentially improve awareness of key factors that facilitate secure and sustainable eHealth ecosystems.
Related to eHealth policies, BeH has reviewed existing eHealth policy-documents in the four African partner countries and has embarked upon the complex endeavor of developing recommendations for an eHealth roadmap for African LLMICs. This activities contribute with important evidence on the importance of engaging policymakers at all levels in collaborative commitment to developing long-term, holistic, and systematic planning for national eHealth ecosystems.
Lastly, the communication- and dissemination-activities undertaken as part of WP 6, have been, and are essential in extending the reach and impact of BETTEReHEALTH as well as engaging stakeholders, among them policymakers, in discussions and debates related to research and policymaking on eHealth. The consortium has during the first reporting period (M1-18) engaged in a variety of communication activities at different arenas and platforms. BETTEReHEALTH has an official website and its own online community. The BeH project and the results of project activities and research have been presented at various international conferences; Medical Informatics Europe (May 2021), Africa Telehealth conferences (June 2021), IST-Africa conference (May 2022).
We have also established four Regional Hubs in Tunisia, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Malawi. Each hub has organized their own regional workshop during months M7 and M8. These were virtual or online workshops. In month 17 and 18 two regional hubs (the Northern African and the Eastern African regions) have organized their second workshops – this time in a hybrid format. The other two remaining regional hubs organised their workshops in M19 and M20. The consortium has also organised an international workshop in M12 (in digital format), and were are planning at least one more to promote the cooperation and networking between Europe and Africa.
Finally, we have launched the registries of eHealth solutions and eHealth policies and we are collaborating with the WHO Digital Health Atlas.
As part of the activities related to the human factors, our project is empowering patients and citizens to participate in the formulation of e-health policies and programmes. We are also trying to identify and connect with initiatives that aim at increasing digital literacy and facilitating the wider use of e-health. As access to health and e-health services has both socioeconomic and gender dimensions, the project's activities will identify, connect with, and support relevant initiatives that address these dimensions. Another aspect that will be addressed in the project and will increase opportunities for patients will be the improved user friendliness and accessibility of e-health. As the project will identify and promote existing initiatives for user-friendly and accessible e-health solutions, more citizens will have the opportunity to use them regardless of gender, age, or disabilities.
As part of the activities related to technical factors, and our activities towards sustainable infrastructure, we expect to contribute to more users, in more areas, to have the opportunity to access e-health services.
As part of the public policy related activities, we expect to contribute to making the use of e-health safe, and that e-health solutions respect the privacy of users and provide data security. Policy can also incentivise wide and sustainable use of e-health.
The registry of existing e-health solutions with relevant documentation of their effect, can help health professionals make informed decisions regarding the use of e-health solutions. Our experience has showed that systematic and summarised evidence has the potential to increase the use of e- health among health professionals.
We expect that successful e-health policies and national programmes lead to e-health with better accessibility and quality. This will increase the opportunities for health professionals since it can increase efficiency, reduce medical mistakes, and help them reach underserved populations. An important issue related to e-health policies is professional liability. Our project will address it and through that, allow more health professionals to use e-health without the additional concerns for malpractice.
As part of the activities related to technical factors, and our activities towards sustainable infrastructure, we expect to contribute to more users, in more areas, to have the opportunity to access e-health services.
As part of the public policy related activities, we expect to contribute to making the use of e-health safe, and that e-health solutions respect the privacy of users and provide data security. Policy can also incentivise wide and sustainable use of e-health.
The registry of existing e-health solutions with relevant documentation of their effect, can help health professionals make informed decisions regarding the use of e-health solutions. Our experience has showed that systematic and summarised evidence has the potential to increase the use of e- health among health professionals.
We expect that successful e-health policies and national programmes lead to e-health with better accessibility and quality. This will increase the opportunities for health professionals since it can increase efficiency, reduce medical mistakes, and help them reach underserved populations. An important issue related to e-health policies is professional liability. Our project will address it and through that, allow more health professionals to use e-health without the additional concerns for malpractice.