The “conundrum” of eHealth

Misha Kay

Manager

Global Observatory for eHealth

World Health Organization, Geneva

Global Observatory for eHealth (GOe)

Established 2005

• Provide timely and quality evidence to improve

policy, practice and management of eHealth

• Raise awareness and commitment of

governments to advance eHealth

• Disseminate research findings on key eHealth

areas as a reference for governments and

policy-makers

Survey activity on eHealth

• 2005/2006 – First global survey

• 2009 – Second global survey

(closed November 2009)

60% response rate from Member States

GOe publications

• eHealth tools and services – Needs of the

Member States (2006)

• Building foundations for eHealth – Progress of

Member States (2007)

• Building foundations for eHealth in Europe

(2008)

http://www.who.int/goe

eHealth series planned for

2010 - 2011

• eHealth foundation policies

• eHealth policies – systematic review

• mHealth

• Telehealth

• eLearning in health sciences

• Management of patient information

• Legal and ethical frameworks for eHealth

• eHealth country profiles

In seven languages

Definitions

• Sustainability is the capacity to endure

(Wikipedia)

• Conundrum is a logical postulation that evades

resolution, an intricate and difficult problem

(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Conundrum

• Is sustainability of healthcare possible without

eHealth?

OR

• Is eHealth itself sustainable?

Key indicators from global eHealth

survey 2009

Trends in:

• eHealth policy

• Funding scenarios for eHealth

• Capacity building

All data currently unpublished

eHealth policy - global

eHealth policy - World Bank income

group

Implementation of eHealth policy -

global

eHealth policy implementation –

World Bank income group

Public funding - global

Private funding - global

Donor support - global

Public-private partnerships - global

Funding scenarios - WB income

group

ICT training - global

ICT training - WB income group

Sustainability – criteria

Favourable policy environment

• Visionary eHealth policy which recognizes the

scope and potential

• Legal and ethical frameworks for eHealth

• Actual implementation

Criteria

Funding scenarios

• Public funding

• Multiple funding sources

• Sufficient resources to complete / sustain

projects

Criteria

Workforce capacity

• ICT training for health sciences students at

university and continuing education for

professionals

• Specialist training for specific eHealth

applications

eHealth sustainability?

High and upper-middle income countries

• More advanced

• Generally solid support from governments – on the agenda

• eHealth policies / funding support / capacity of workforce - relatively advanced

• Legal and ethical issues – on the agenda

• Interoperability - priority

• Research and experimentation

eHealth sustainability?

Low and lower-middle income countries

• Behind but may be able to leapfrog in some cases

• Variable government support

• eHealth policies / funding support / capacity of

workforce - require significant support

• Legal and ethical issues – early days

• Interoperability – more work

• Research and experimentation – funding and

exchanges required

The prognosis?

Thank you!

Misha Kay