Information technology (IT) is an increasingly important part of highly effective health systems. For example, IT enables physicians and patients to communicate more quickly and from longer distances, allows consumers to be more informed about their health care options, and helps health managers to monitor services more efficiently.
The Abt Associates-led Health System Strengthening Project (HSSP), a leader in health care IT in Georgia, was recently recognized for its efforts in this area by three prizes awarded to the project and its partner, the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoLHSA).
The project and the ministry won the grand prize for the best IT project at the Georgia ICT Development and Cyber-Security (GITI) Conference held on November 15-17, 2012, in Tbilisi, Georgia. The award recognizes the project-developed Healthcare and Pharmacy Network Information Portal, which enables citizens and other stakeholders to access a wide range of health system information electronically, including prices and availability of pharmaceutical products and healthcare services, and distribution of services and medical personnel.
USAID, which funds HSSP, noted the significance of the awards. “Assistance through the USAID/HSSP in developing the e-Health system will result in enhanced transparency and better value for money of the public spending on health in Georgia. The recent awards granted to the specific modules of e-Health confirm that the work done to date is appreciated and valued by the local, Georgian counterparts for its timeliness, practicality, flexibility and reliability,” said Mr. George Khechinashvili, the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative at USAID Georgia.
HSSP is a five-year project that began in 2009. The project is expanding the capacity of health insurers, improving the quality of health care providers, and strengthening the capacity of the government of Georgia to guide and monitor health reform. The Healthcare and Pharmacy Network Information Portal is just one of many Health Management Information System (HMIS) components developed by the project.
“IT, and Information Systems development in particular, is an integral part of HSSP’s mission to help with expanding Georgians’ access to quality and affordable health care,” said Mr. Alexander Turdziladze, who directs HSSP as Chief of Party.
HSSP and MoLHSA also won two awards in the following categories: The most widely applicable e-service created for a government agency, and the most successful IT innovation which resulted in streamlining of business processes.
More than 300 senior-level public and private sector representatives from over 30 countries attended the annual conference, which was organized to help the information technology sector serve as an engine for Georgian socio-economic growth.