Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Alwahaibi, the Advisor of the Minister of Health; and the Supervisor-General of the Information Technology and Communications Department of the Ministry of Health (MOH), pointed out that developing the health information in the Kingdom is considered a main pillar regarding the national health strategy. This entailsjump-starting the communications and information technology as a basis for empowering the health care "e-health".Thus, the MOH developed a roadmapto implement the e-health strategy and achieve its objectives.
He went on to add that the MOH, as part of its strategic plan, greatly focused on the information technology and communications, out of the belief in the importance of applying technology in the health care field and its effect on our life affairs in general, especially the heath life of each citizen.
And he said "currently, it is being implemented a number of huge technological projects as close as 85 developmental and vital projects and 22 initiatives, under the umbrella of the e-health program. Thus, the MOH crafted a strategic management and five-year plan which in turn renders the e-health a main factor in terms of developing and providing these services. The e-health strategy is centered on four principal pillars; they are attending to the patients, linking the service provider to the entire healthcare levels, measuring the performance of delivering the health care, and transforming the health care providing in a way that goes with the world standards."
Meanwhile, he unveiled that at the end of 1434H, the MOH fulfilled a number of virtual achievements. It finished carrying out 34 e-programs; of which, to name only few, finishing applying the Epidemiological and infectious Prevention Program (Hisn). It aims to improve the Kingdom's capacities in terms of making biomonitoringand providing those working in the health care field with the immediate ability to gather, exchange, and analyze the necessary information with the aim of managing the infectious diseases. It also provides an automatic tool for early detection and an awareness system of evaluating the reported suspected cases; as well as monitoring the statistics and displaying the data through the early diagnosis for the cases; in order to detect any change regarding the public health as early as possible.
Further, the first phase of applying the Neonates' Protection System in 16 gynecology and maternity hospitals has finished. It aims at protecting the neonates from abducting or unintentional swapping within hospitals. This is through drawing on the technologies of pinpointing the identity with the radio waves. In addition to this, the "Ihalati" E-Program has been implemented; it enables the hospitals to refer the patients to the other hospitals and follow up on the referred case, as well as the possibility of having it referred to the health affairs directorate and the MOH.
All the more, the second phase of theMOH portal-based Serious Medical Incidents Program has been completed. It is centered on reporting once the serious incident takes place according to the set standards, through registering the serious incident and entering its details in the system,with the aim of having it reach the MOH's officials; to take the appropriate procedures and raise the quality of the health services. Also, the Births Registration Program has been put into effect, it aims to exchange the data related to the births with the Ministerial Agency of Civil Affairs through the National Information Center. More than 250 hospitals have been linked across the Kingdom.
He also made clear that among the developmental achievements of the E-Health Program is finishing applying the E-Recruitment System. This service manages those seeking to work for the MOH to apply for job virtually, needless to go to the MOH in person. Moreover, the Citizen's Voice Program has been initiated; it is intended for making the citizens' and foreigners' voices reach the MOH's senior officials via the MOH portal. It also comprises the complaints, inquiries, and suggestions.
Also, among the main projects that have been achieved is the project of the e-linking between the MOH and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties through the MOH Employees' Affairs Program. This is with the aim of obtaining the registration number, registration validity of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, their ranking, and name in Arabic and English. Further, the Poison Monitoring System "Awtar" was jump-started and was applied across the Kingdom. It aims to link the entire Kingdom's poisons monitoring centers to a virtual central system. This system provides a number of specialized e-services in the poisons monitoring field for the MOH's employees and those dealing with it.
Further, during the last Hajj season, "Ijad" System for the missing Hajj performers' services took effect. The MOH was keen to launch this System via its portal. This is as part of the health services delivered via the internet. It is to serve the Hajj performers, circumbulation foundations, and Hajj expeditions. In addition to this, the Hajj and Umarh Performers' Examination Program "Yaqiz" was activated, it aims at providing a database holding the names of the bus drivers whose results were positive in terms of doing some banned drugs.
Moreover, developing the project of the Bed Management System finished. This Program enables the concerned and authorized official to enter precise data around the clock on the bed status, in addition to managing the one-day surgery and routine operations in the hospitals related to the MOH.
Within the same vein, the E-Transferring Employees System was put into effect. It is meant for automating the procedures of transferring the employees domestically and internationally. As such, the process of submitting applications takes place virtually via the MOH portal, and it makes it easier for the users follow the applications via the System.
He remarked that all the above-mentioned achievements which were made last year come as part of a series of the projects among the strategic plan items of the E-Health Program. He went on to point out that there are 35 e-projects being implemented such as the project of the E-Archiving System for the X-ray photos of 54 hospitals across the Kingdom. This project is intended for e-archiving the X-ray photos in the MOH's facilities. This System is to be linked to the E-Health System; in order for these photos and reports to be among the patient's e-file. It also aims at reducing the patient's waiting period, as well as finishing the cost of developing and printing the X-ray films. Further, it makes it easier reach the X-ray photos from any place within and outside the hospital, as well as contributing to avoiding exposing the patient the X-ray several times. This in turn benefits both the patient and other concerned bodies.
He concluded saying that the full application of the e-health vision positively impacts the patients' life in the health facilities and the services related to the MOH. It provides them with the ability to have access to the trusted health information via the internet, mobile messages, and telephones. It also helps patients easily reach the health services sought, as well as abridging time and effort to get the service such as swift diagnosis when the medical care is needed and lessen the waiting period of delivering the service.