INTEGRATED NETWORK SYSTEM FOR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health and the
Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) are spearheading an initiative,the
Integrating Health Enterprise (IHE), for the healthcare industry.

The aim of the IHE is to provide seamless health information movement within
the industry.

"With the IHE, relevant information of a patient can be shared among
associates within the network while establishing a platform of
interoperability," said the Ministry of Health Telehealth Division director Dr
Amiruddin Hisan at the MSC Malaysia IHE Connectathon forum Tuesday.

Amiruddin added that the initiative is being undertaken with the patients'
well-being in mind as with the IHE, medical records can be shared
instantly and errors reduced to a minimum.

Currently, the ministry is developing a central system to sustain the
integrated network.

However, Amiruddin declined to comment on the cost of the system as the
process is ongoing.

"The network will also enable health information movement within and
between enterprises, regions and nations through a common framework in adopting
multiple standards," said MDeC chief executive officer Badlisham Ghazali.

He also stated that due to overwhelming response from local players in
the industry, MDeC is planning to open registration for the next MSC Malaysia
IHE Connectathon in April this year.

The MDeC is a government-owned corporation,established to facilitate the
development and promotion of MSC Malaysia's initiatives.

Meanwhile, at the forum, certificates of compliance for Telehealth standards
were awarded to 12 localised and international organisations.
-- BERNAMA