Health technology must benefit patients

14 September 2015

 

Apartnership between the City of Johannesburg, the Gauteng Department of Health and theSouthern African Health Technology Assessment Society (SAHTAS) will ensure that investment in health technology benefits the patient the most.

 

Speaking on the second day of the inaugural eHealth Conference on Saturday September 12, Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau said eHealth technology would soon be a reality in all City healthcare facilities as part of a bid to improve service delivery and access to healthcare.

 

“A city cannot be referred to as a Smart City unless it improves the health of its citizens. After all, a healthy city is one that is characterised by resilience and sustainability. In that sense, our health system is a social determinant of health and the City of Johannesburg has embraced the concept of technology use to improve our health system,” said Mayor Tau.

 

The Gauteng Department of Health is investing R300-million in new health technology for all facilities throughout the province.

 

SAHTAS Chairperson Dr Ntombi Mutshekwane said the investment had the ability to change the face of health in Gauteng.

 

“As SAHTAS we will be acting as a non-partisan entity to assist the Gauteng Health Department with decision-making and technological assessments of equipment for the procurement of devices and pharmaceuticals that will have the greatest impact on patients. Decisions made on which technology to invest in need to be justifiable against all the available options,” said Dr Mutshekwane.

 

Gauteng Health Director Dr Ernest Kenoshi said patient records at public facilities would be transferred onto an electronic format within the next 18-24 months.

 

“The optimal use of technology requires proper assessment by a multidisciplinary team of experts. I am pleased to know that SAHTAS, as a professional body in this field with a mission to support and promote the development, communication, understanding and use of HTA in Southern Africa, as an evidence-based decision-making tool regarding the life-cycle assessment of health technologies, in support of accessible, affordable, safe, effective and efficient healthcare delivery, is working with us to ensure optimal investment choices,” said Dr Kenoshi.