LIME, Ministry of Health collaborate on new health information system

The Ministry of Health has partnered with telecommunications company LIME on a project that, when implemented, will electronically link all public health institutions in St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

Last Wednesday, officials from both organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Ministry of Health’s conference room.

In his address, Minister of Health Clayton Burgin announced that this country will be the third nation in the region to embrace a computerised health information system. Belize and St Lucia already have these systems in place.

“Key areas of our operations … will be computerised,” Burgin said. “Information technology has continued to change the way offices function across the world.”

He spoke of the benefits of the SVG Health Information System (SVGHIS) .

“[It] offers a genuine competitive edge in the global tourism industry,” said Burgin.

Epidemiologist Dr Jennifer George said that the system on which the Ministry of Health will be fashioning its health information system was procured from a Canadian company.

George said the OECS Electronic Government for Regional Integration Project (GRIP) will be providing the ministry with consultancy services in the development of the SVGHIS – offering both technical and financial assistance.

She further explained that LIME has been a major stakeholder on this project, and will be instrumental in the implementation and maintenance of our health information system.

George said this will be the first of several private-public partnerships between the ministry and LIME. She also said she hopes this move will encourage other companies in the corporate sector to follow suit.

LIME country manager Leslie Jack said this is one of many “historical days” for the company, and that he looks forward to the “successful implementation of this project”.

Minister Burgin expressed gratitude to his staff and those at LIME for making this venture possible.

“They have been working beyond the call of duty,” he insisted.

A health information system collects and processes data from various medical or health care sources, and uses the information for policy making and efficient management of health services.

The system may integrate data from civil/vital registration, censuses, population surveys, facility surveys, individual records, service records and resource records.(JV)