His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Rabeeah, launched this morning a number of major projects within the framework of the Saudi e-Health Transactions Program (Rabet), going in line with the MOH's strategic plan aiming at attaining the sought-after aspirations, and seeking to achieve the its vision as denoted by the slogan: “Patient First”. In this spirit, Dr. al-Rabeeah opened the e-health conference and exhibition, under the theme “Consensus and the Will of Change”, organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), at Hilton Hotel in Jeddah.
In the address he delivered on this occasion, Dr. al-Rabeeah was quoted as saying, “E-Health is a comprehensive national edifice embodied in the Strategic Plan for the Saudi e-Health Transactions Program (Rabet), which the Ministry of Health envisages to be the hub for linking all public and private health sectors in an integrated system that would ensure an interrelated and coherent base of health services in the Kingdom. By so doing, information will be unified, duplication will be averted, and waste will be curbed, thus achieving optimal investment of resources. On this occasion, I call upon all health sectors to make every effort to accomplish this mission, and attain this target.”
Furthermore, Dr. al-Rabeeah reiterated the MOH's keen interest in adopting the concept of e-health and its new implications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in compliance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Deputy Prime Minister, may Allah protect them, towards the adoption of e-governance in a manner that makes it easier for the Ministry's beneficiaries to get access to scientifically sound and accurate information, meanwhile maintaining the confidentiality of health information, according to the health ethics.
“The Ministry of Health is witnessing a huge momentum affecting all its facilities, and is undergoing a historical juncture characterized by large-scale expansion and comprehensive development, in terms of both quantity and quality,” said Dr. al-Rabeeah. “The MOH's strategic plan, which is currently underway, takes as its target the doubling the beds and facilities which were existing in 1430H, which is significant as to the size of the said momentum and change.”
Dr. al-Rabeeah made clear that e-health is deemed to be one of the main pillars of the MOH's strategic plans. It is undergoing a pivotal historical juncture, in terms of development ant paradigm shift. More importantly, the plan is targeting nationalizing the specialized Saudi caliber. “The most important phase in the MOH's history is the phase of change of MOH staff, who are the main pillar in that glorious edifice,” al-Rabeeah continued. “In the meantime, I call upon everybody to make every effort, and to accept the change and transformation policies with their ministry is undergoing. This change is meant to bring about enormous development, and establishing an integrated system of technology, quality, automation, and self-development, not to forget the good communication and accessibility to best serve patients and thus gain their satisfaction, and, in turn, put into action the MOH slogan: 'Patient First'.”
For his part, the Advisor to the Minister, and Supervisor General of ICT at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdullah al-Weheibi, pointed out that the goal behind organizing the International e-Health Conference, is to “shed some light on the latest developments in the domain of health information technology globally, as well as highlighting the pivotal role of e-health and its contribution to the provision of best-quality health care services for all beneficiaries throughout the world. Besides, he conference shall touch upon the development achieved by the Saudi Ministry of Health, and the strategies it adopts to develop the use of technology of e-health to improve the quality and efficiency the health system for the sake of all Saudi citizens and residents. This is going to be underlined by a constellation of specialists in the area of e-health at the regional and international levels, with the participation of the MOH's senior staff.”
Over and above, al-Weheibi mentioned that this year's conference will be attended by a distinguished constellation of specialists in the domain of e-health from both the regional and international perspectives, including Richard Alvarez, CEO Health Infoway, reckoned to be one of the leaders of the Canadian health care, in Prof. Simon de Lusignan, who holds a BA degree in biochemistry, BA in medicine and surgery, master's degree in health informatics, PhD in medical research, and associate degree in the British High Education Academy. Additionally, he is an expert in information systems, associate professor at the British Computer Association, and associate professor at the Royal College for Medical Professionals.
He added, “Among participants in the conference, also, is Claire McCarthy, an international strategic expert in the areas of change management and technology accreditation. She is highly experienced in supporting the individuals and institutions specialized in health care, through the changes and transformations stimulated by transformation software and other large-scale changes. The conference seeks to display a set of experiences and administrative information systems and applications adopted in the various health sectors.
These workshops are organized by a number of experts specialized in health information technology, both Saudis and foreigners. In addition, the conference will be followed by an exhibition in which a number of high-profile companies and agencies specialized in health information technology participate.”
It should be noted that the conference will discuss the latest developments in the health information technology area worldwide, as well as the pivotal role of e-health, and its contributions to the provision of best-quality health care services for all beneficiaries throughout the world. Besides, he conference shall touch upon the development achieved by the Saudi Ministry of Health, and the strategies it adopts to develop the use of technology of e-health to improve the quality and efficiency the health system for the sake of all Saudi citizens and residents.