E-Government and E-Health Strategies by Mrs. Veronica Boateng

ECOSOC Africa Regional Ministerial Meeting on e-Health:

E-Government and E-Health Strategies

Accra, Ghana 10-11 June 2009

Presentation by Mrs Veronica Boateng,

Director, Application Systems

Ghana Information and Communications Technology Directorate (GICTeD)

• Background• E-Government Developments in Ghana• E-Health Strategies and Applications• Conclusion

Content

Background

• National e-Health strategy should define the common threads that binds the National health and National ICT strategies

• Ghana’s National ICT Policy document - ICT4AD

• A policy statement for the realization of the vision to transform Ghana into an information-rich knowledge-based society and Economy through the development, deployment and exploitation of ICTs within the economy and society.

• It takes into account provisions of key socio-economic development framework documents including:

Vision 2020 –Achievement of middle income status Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS 2002 -2004)

Co-coordinated Program for Economic and Social Development of Ghana (2003-2012).

Ghana ICT4AD Policy

Focus Areas of Policy14 Pillars of ICT4AD

Accelerated Human development Promoting ICT’s in Education

Developing a globally competitive value-added services sector

Rapid ICT and enabling physical infrastructure Development

Promoting E-Government and Governance Promotion of National Health

Facilitating the development of the Private Sector

Promoting local and foreign direct investment drive in ICTs

Developing an Export-Oriented ICT products and Services Industry

Facilitating National security and law and order

Modernization of Agriculture and the Development of an Agro-business Industry

Research and Development, Science and Industrial Capacity Research Development

Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework provisions

Development and spread of ICTs in the Community

ICT4AD - National Health

Policy Statement

• Implementation of initiatives aimed at facilitating the widespread deployment of ICT to support the operations of health delivery systems .

Objectives

To promote the implementation of telemedicine applications within the health delivery system

To integrate and deploy the use of ICT in health program delivery with target for health education, training and preventive detection

To utilize ICT as a tool for collecting community information; linking health care professionals and enhancing health administration, remote diagnostics and distribution of medical supplies

E-Government Developments in GhanaE-Government Developments in Ghana

7

E-Government means the use by Government of web-based Internet applications and other information technologies, combined with processes that implement these technologies, to enhance the access to and delivery of Government information and services to the public, other agencies, and other Government entities;

E-Government means the use by Government of web-based Internet applications and other information technologies, combined with processes that implement these technologies, to enhance the access to and delivery of Government information and services to the public, other agencies, and other Government entities;

E-Government Strategies - Strategic Goals • Strategic Goal 1: Establish Institutional Framework to oversee the

implementation of E-Government.• Strategic Goal 2: Establish a component-based Ghana Government

Enterprise Architecture to facilitate efficient and effective citizen to government, government to government, and government to business interaction.

• Strategic Goal 3: Implement a secure, robust, and interoperable E-Government Infrastructure.

• Strategic Goal 4: Ensure the Legal and Regulatory Framework that supports the adoption and implementation of E-Government.

• Strategic Goal 5: Leverage the use of ICT, within an effective E-Government Environment, to meet vital socio-economic development goals (e-Services).

• Strategic Goal 6: Seek active and direct participation of the private sector in the implementation of E-Government

E-Government Implementation Timeline

Government Portal,MDA Websites,Web Standard Guidelines

Establish Enterprise Architecture

Establish Interoperability Framework

Change Management and Capacity Building

Create a Metadata Repository and a Data Warehouse

Build Data Center, Infrastructure for Communications, Server, VPN, Middleware, Security, Knowledge,

Create Disaster Recovery Sites

Deploy Electronic Procurement

Integrate Service Delivery and Governmental Processes

Customize Information and Services needs of individuals and businesses

Identify Service integration possibilities and Develop Business Process Techniques

Enable MDA Independent Single Point of Contact for Access to Information and Services

Deploy Common and Specific Applications

Governance and Legal framework Council

Phase 12 Years

Phase 23 Years

Phase 34 Years

Phase 43 Years

Phase 53 Years

Governance and Legal Framework for e-Government

• GICTeD was established in 2006 in anticipation of the formation of National Information Technology Agency (NITA)

• NITA bill was passed in December 2008

NITA - Agency to regulate the provision of Information Communications Technology under the Electronic Transactions

• Electronic Transaction Bill passed in December 2008

Includes Digital Signature, Consumer protection and Protected Computers and Critical Database

Ghana Information & Communication Technology Directorate

• Established as a result of the ICT4AD policy• Operational arm of the Ministry of Communications• Develop, implement and maintain a coordinated

National plan for information technology• Develop innovative technologies, standards,

guidelines, and practices, among government agencies within the national and local governments and the private sector.

e-Government Applications and Communications

Ghana Government Enterprise Architecture

Government Interoperability Framework

Government Wide Area Network

Government Portal/Gateway National Data Center ICT Training and Capacity

Building

• Shared GIS Services

• Messaging and Collaboration

• Appointment and Scheduling

• IT Scheme of Service • MDA Specific Applications -

Public Private Partnerships for Revenue Generating Agencies (IRS, VATS,RGD, RAGB, LTU)


Enterprise Architecture (EA)

Framework for the implementation of the different architecture perspectives (business, applications, data and technical) across government to improve technology decision making.

Pilot Implementation of EA – Ghana Health Service, Internal Revenue Service and Ministry of Communications

GGEA – Logical Architecture

MDAApplication

Services

ChannelsWork Portalse-Gov Portal

Collaboration

SharedApplication

InfrastructureServices

BusinessManagement

Business ProcessOrchestration

Data(XSD)

Messaging

Kiosks

Identity Management

WebPortal

EnterpriseDirectory Services

Shared Back OfficeServices

Registration Authentication Enrolment

Digital Asset Services

SSO

FaxContactCentre E-Mail PostPDAMobile

PhoneCIC Face2Face

Support Services

Security Systems Management Standards & Policies GovernanceArchitecture Process

Citizens Businesses Other GovernmentsUsers

SOAP/HTTPS

Communities

Forms e-FormsServices

Intermediaries

PaymentGateway

PaymentsServices

InteractiveTV

CRM

Business Intelligence & Analytics

Data Marts

BPMBusiness Process

Management& BPEL Engine

BAMBusiness Activity

Monitoring Reference

Data

BusinessRulesEngine

Workflow

ETLExtract, Transform &

Load

EIIEnterprise Information

Integration

Meta-DataRepository

GovernmentInformationManagement

Transformation RoutingService Registry

Web Services

WSDL

OperationalData Stores

Bulk Printing

Imaging

JCA JMS FTP TCP/IPEDISOAP O/JDBCAdapters/APIs Vendor Supplied

Device Integration

Business Layer

Integration Layer

EnterpriseService

Bus

Training

GIS

Shared Services

CRM

Data Warehouse

MDM

RevenueCollection

Health JusticeBenefits

& PensionsElectoralRegister

NaturalResources

LandsRegistration

EnvironmentDefence

ForeignAffairs

Sports

Licensing

Permits Disaster Mgt

Planning &Budgeting

Case Mgt

CollectionsMgt

Tourism Correspond.Mgt

Legislation

RegulatoryCompliance

ManpowerLaw

Enforcement PostalSocial

Services Transport AgriculturePublic Utility

Local Govt

Others

KnowledgeMgt

RecordsMgt

ContentMgt

Document Mgt

StatisticalMgt Fleet &

Asset MgtHR &

Payroll

Supply Chain Mgt

Finance

Employees

Enterprise Architecture – Health Service Architecture

Government Interoperability Framework

Definition

A set of policies, technical standards, as well as

guidelines covering ways to achieve interoperability

among MDAs and other Government organizations.

Guiding Principles

• Working groups to manage e-GIF

• MDAs in the public/civil sectors must comply with the e-GIF• Public/civil sector information systems must be accessible through

browser-based technology• Framework to be vendor-neutral and open standards-based .

E-GIF – Policy Guidelines

• Use Internet and World Wide Web standards for all public sector systems

• Use XML as the key standard for data interchange

• Make the browser the key interface for access and

manipulation of all information

• Assign metadata to government information resources• Adopts open, international standards that are well

supported by the market• Internet based implementation strategy through e-Gif

website

E-GIF Scope


Government Wide Area Network

Establishment of a shared government-wide network connecting key MDAs. This will help MDAs to better secure their databases and provide them with high speed connectivity for sharing information and applications


• Government Portal

An interface between

government and

citizens, media and

civil society, to

Promote transparency and

encourage feedback

on public policy programmes.

PCs

Kiosk /café

Mobile Device


National Data Center

A tier-3 data center that will serve as the main source of information storage for the MDAs. This will include a Network Operating Centre, Security Operating Centre and a Storage Area Network.


ICT Training and Capacity Building• CIO training• Training the ICT technical staff• Training for legislators and

judicial officers

e-Government Applications

• Shared GIS Services – A Web service used by applications for mapping of geospatial data.


• Messaging and Collaboration

Messaging facility introduced to enhance the communication between the various MDAs and will facilitate dissemination of information and improve the efficiency within the MDAs


Appointment and Scheduling

This application will track and manage the scheduling and appointments between the Government agencies and citizens


• IT Scheme of Service

With the e-Government project rolling out, more skilled IT personnel will be needed to maintain the system of MDAs. An IT scheme of service has been developed to attract and maintain the best brains in the IT industry


MDA Specific Applications • PPP (Public Private Partnership) arrangement in

developing electronic applications and services for Internal Revenue Service, Revenue Agencies Governing Board, Value Added Tax Agency, Large Tax Payers Unit and the Registrar General Department.

E-HEALTH Strategy and Applications

E-Health (defined) • Application of the Internet and other related technologies in

the healthcare industry to improve the access, efficiency, effectiveness and quality of clinical and business processes utilized by healthcare organizations, practitioners, patients and consumers to improve the health status of patients.

• Conducting health business electronically

• ICT in Health Sector

• ICTs provide opportunities for individuals, medical professionals and healthcare providers to – obtain information, – communicate with professionals, – deliver first-line support especially where distance is a

critical factor and – promote preventive medicine programmes.

ROLE OF ICT IN HEALTH

APPLICATION OF ICT IN HEALTH• At Referral Hospitals/Regional Hospitals/

District/Sub-district/ Health Centres & delivery units, ICT enable:– more effective planning, decision-making and monitoring– improved shared service operations– more effective resource management

• At service providers level, ICT can enable:– efficient movement of necessary data to clinicians

• integration of clinical information across the health system

• consistent and shared views of patient data– matching of resources to activity levels through relevant

up-to-date information;– reliable and timely evidence-based decision-making;

APPLICATION OF ICT IN HEALTH (Continued)

E-health is about modernizing health system methods and technologies to increase the quality, safety, timeliness, and efficiency of health service to citizens. The Strategy, therefore is to deal with e-health as a long term project requiring clarity, ownership of direction, strong collaboration and accountability among all key stakeholders, and attention to specific achievable deliverables.

STRATEGY

Strategies Continued

• Strong leadership required to solve conflicts between and within organizations.

• Skill development and adoption of new practices• Need to create ICT Portals in order to:• Improve patient-provider communication

– Contain cost– Provide reliable health information– Reduce medical errors– Enhance efficiency; access, utilization and collaboration

Strategies (continued)

Awareness and Training• Build ICT Awareness and Skills on the potentials of ICTs for

E-Health in the sector through introduction of ICT curriculum in all health training institutions including medical and research institutions, nurses training institutions, medical technologists schools.

Budgets for Sustainability• Ensure integration of ICT in all budgetary processes and

approach to health management to ensure sustainability

Strategies (continued)

Internet Protocol (IP)• Harnessing the potentials of IP by developing

policies for sharing of patient medical information through the use of ICT while taking into consideration issues of trust, confidentiality and security of patient information and ensuring its timely delivery as it affects life or death situation of the individual.

E-Environment• Promoting the establishment of favourable legal

and policy environment for e-Health.

Conclusion

• E-health (ICTs) present many potential benefits for growth in health delivery service

• Human resource development related to ICT in health is a huge area that is critical to the successful application of ICT in the sector.

• Skills in information systems design and implementation are critical to successful application of ICT in the sector.

• ICT Backbone infrastructure is being implemented in Ghana the stakeholders must take advantage

• Time to develop a National e-Health strategy in Ghana

THANK YOU

Health & Medicine

E-Government and E-Health Strategies by Mrs. Veronica Boateng