Source: 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 today.

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 Datuk 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.