Strategic planning for management of information and electronic communication in healthcare sector: Story of the North-Western Province

Abstract

In the recent past, several attempts to incorporate computer based solutions and electronic communication into the flow of data and analysis of information in the government healthcare sector in Sri Lanka could not be sustained or successfully replicated. This is true for the Provincial Department of Health Services of the North Western Province as well. Therefore the need for strategically planned background work was identified as a priority before developing on complex individual information systems within the healthcare sector of the North Western Province. The provincial department successfully implemented a medium term strategic plan empowering the department towards incorporating electronic communication and computerised solutions appropriately and optimally while ensuring safety and privacy of the care recipients.