Ministers for health from the Seychelles, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Montenegro and representatives of Belize and the World Health Organization welcomed the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne to the meeting on the use of technology in the field of health in countries with small populations.
Chris Fearne stated that as small countries, regardless of their geographical position, they all experience common challenges in the field of health and therefore encouraged the establishment of an international network of ministers for the health of small nations, which could be supported by the World Health Organization itself. He explained that in this way there will be a structured forum where small countries from around the world share their best practices in the health field and learn from each other. This while creating the opportunity for these countries to unite with one voice in order to advance their health policy, which may be different from that of larger countries, during international meetings.
The deputy prime minister also called for the countries, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, to work on a common technology system of electronic patient records, so that it is possible for patients to give access to information of their health to doctors regardless of the country where they are accessing care.
During this meeting the health ministers were given a presentation on the use of digital technology in the Maltese health system, where it was explained how the use of services such as electronic patient records, telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and other technologies are assisting health professionals to offer a better and more efficient service to patients.
In addition to the interventions of the ministers for health, the European Regional Director of the World Health Organization Hans Kluge also intervened virtually, who thanked Malta for the initiative, while listing a number of technological services that the -The World Health Organization is encouraging member countries to implement for the global improvement of health services.
Photos: DOI/MFH
