ICTA signs agreement with Ministry of Health to formulate National Digital Health blueprint

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka announced that an agreement was signed between the ICTA and the Ministry of Health (MoH) recently to formulate a National Digital Healthcare blueprint.   

The blueprint serves as a comprehensive roadmap with standards, policies, guidance, and specifications for implementation that will facilitate a higher quality of healthcare for citizens of Sri Lanka. The objective is to improve healthcare services to the overall population, control healthcare costs by promoting health maintenance, prevention, and care coordination; thereby, develop a resilient and sustainable systems for quality healthcare in Sri Lanka. 

Under this initiative, a Digital Healthcare Architecture blueprint, operational inter-operability plan, Leadership, governance, point-of-care services, including community health information system, electronic medical records, lab systems, pharmacy, logistics management systems, including capacity development and technical assistance will be looked into in this holistic approach.

ICTA has been actively collaborating with the MoH for several key initiatives, including successful implementation of Medical Supplies Management Information System (MSMIS), Hospital Health Information Management System (HHIMS), and the software solutions implemented to combat COVID-19 pandemic. 

Over 5.7 million patients have benefited with quick and hassle-free access to healthcare services, efficient services delivery and dispensing of medicine in hospitals around the country, including Kegalle, Wathupitawela, and Matara where the HHIMS has been implemented.

The agreement was signed by Ministry of Health Secretary Dr. S.H. Munasinghe, and ICTA Chairman Oshada Senanayake, in the presence of ICTA Chief Digital Government Officer Kanchana Thudugala, and MoH Director Dr. Palitha Karunapema.