The Minister of Health, Khumbidze Kandodo Chiponda, has described the need for the country to embrace new technologies including the use of digital platforms to ensure that information is readily available and costs associated with provision of public services are reduced.
Chiponda made the remarks at the Digital Health Symposium in Lilongwe where she also launched the Digital Health Strategy 2020-2025.
The strategy is a tool to guide in spearheading the use of digital technologies in the health sector in order to enhance service delivery.
According to Chiponda, if the country implements this Digital Health Strategy well, it will bring openness and transparency to health services.
She further said: “To show its commitment to digital health leadership, the Ministry of Health has designated the Directorate of Planning and Policy Development to lead and coordinate the implementation of Digital Health in the health sector.
“At national level, the Government designated the Ministry of Information with representation at Cabinet level to champion digital governance.”
Some of the partners who provided funds and technical expertise to the development of this strategy include Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), WHO, USAID among others.
