Healthcare Systems Sustainability. The "conundrum" of Health. Kay M. eHealth week 2010 (Barcelona: CCIB Convention Centre; 2010)

1. The “conundrum” of eHealth
Misha Kay
Manager
Global Observatory for eHealth
World Health Organization, Geneva

2. Global Observatory for eHealth (GOe)
Established 2005
• Provide timely and quality evidence to improve
policy, practice and management of eHealth
• Raise awareness and commitment of
governments to advance eHealth
• Disseminate research findings on key eHealth
areas as a reference for governments and
policy-makers

3. Survey activity on eHealth
• 2005/2006 – First global survey
• 2009 – Second global survey
(closed November 2009)
60% response rate from Member States

4. GOe publications
• eHealth tools and services – Needs of the
Member States (2006)
• Building foundations for eHealth – Progress of
Member States (2007)
• Building foundations for eHealth in Europe
(2008)
http://www.who.int/goe

5. eHealth series planned for
2010 - 2011
• eHealth foundation policies
• eHealth policies – systematic review
• mHealth
• Telehealth
• eLearning in health sciences
• Management of patient information
• Legal and ethical frameworks for eHealth
• eHealth country profiles
In seven languages

6. Definitions
• Sustainability is the capacity to endure
(Wikipedia)
• Conundrum is a logical postulation that evades
resolution, an intricate and difficult problem
(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

7. Conundrum
• Is sustainability of healthcare possible without
eHealth?
OR
• Is eHealth itself sustainable?

8. Key indicators from global eHealth
survey 2009
Trends in:
• eHealth policy
• Funding scenarios for eHealth
• Capacity building
All data currently unpublished

9. eHealth policy - global

10. eHealth policy - World Bank income
group

11. Implementation of eHealth policy -
global

12. eHealth policy implementation –
World Bank income group

13. Public funding - global

14. Private funding - global

15. Donor support - global

16. Public-private partnerships - global

17. Funding scenarios - WB income
group

18. ICT training - global

19. ICT training - WB income group

20. Sustainability – criteria
Favourable policy environment
• Visionary eHealth policy which recognizes the
scope and potential
• Legal and ethical frameworks for eHealth
• Actual implementation

21. Criteria
Funding scenarios
• Public funding
• Multiple funding sources
• Sufficient resources to complete / sustain
projects

22. Criteria
Workforce capacity
• ICT training for health sciences students at
university and continuing education for
professionals
• Specialist training for specific eHealth
applications

23. eHealth sustainability?
High and upper-middle income countries
• More advanced
• Generally solid support from governments – on the
agenda
• eHealth policies / funding support / capacity of
workforce - relatively advanced
• Legal and ethical issues – on the agenda
• Interoperability - priority
• Research and experimentation

24. eHealth sustainability?
Low and lower-middle income countries
• Behind but may be able to leapfrog in some cases
• Variable government support
• eHealth policies / funding support / capacity of
workforce - require significant support
• Legal and ethical issues – early days
• Interoperability – more work
• Research and experimentation – funding and
exchanges required

25. The prognosis?
Thank you!
Misha Kay