ARMM distributes Android tablets to LGUs to promote efficient health info

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=862958
• Friday, March 4, 2016

By Noel Y. Punzalan [(PNA), FFC/NYP]

COTABATO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- In its desire to serve its clients more effectively and improve efficiency and transparency of health information, the Department of Science and Technology in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOST-ARMM) has been distributing Android tablets with “eHATID” application to local government units (LGUs).

It is a software application for Android tablets offering real-time access to health information among LGUs and medical doctors.

According to Mon-Em Abangad, DOST-ARMM information officer, the provision of the tablet falls under the agency’s eHATID LGU project (eHealth TABLET for Informed Decision-Making of LGUs).

“The DOST-ARMM provides two Android tablets for each LGU, one of which will be used by the Local Rural Health Units. The project is free of charge and we initially targeted a total of 70 LGUs in ARMM as beneficiaries,” Abangad said in a statement.

As of Thursday, a total of 61 LGUs in the region already benefited from the project.

Abangad encouraged other LGUs to avail of the project the first step of which, is to submit a letter of intent to the agency.

“Once the LGU has submitted its letter of intent duly signed by the local chief executive, DOST-ARMM will assess the (LGU’s application) based on selection criteria,” said Abangad.

Abangad advised LGU officials to comply the following:

• local chief executive support for innovations;

• presence of development-oriented projects in the LGU;

• responsive health sector; and

• internet connectivity and technical readiness.

The project provides health information system support through an online and offline Electronic Medical Record that generates particular health reports for the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Abangad explained that the project aims to improve efficiency and transparency among stakeholders using an enhanced health information system model that promotes health information convergence and informed decision-making.

The eHATID LGU data are synced to a central database via cloud facilities of the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of DOST.

The DOST-ARMM spokesperson said the system has security protocols that are strictly implemented to comply with the policies and program requirements for data security, privacy and confidentiality.