Electronic Medical Records in Uganda

Topic 

Electronic Medical Records in Uganda

Instructions 

This case is about what it takes to implement an electronic medical record system to collect and systematize accurate health data for patient care and research. It highlights the range of services, departments, financing, management support, and technology necessary to integrate data collection with patient care.

You should notice the conflicting and competing interests of the various stakeholders – at the broadest level the conflicts between public and private healthcare.

Was the EMR system’s potential met? Who should pay for the EMR systems maintenance and upkeep? Where the expectations of the EMR stakeholders met?

I do not want to restrain your contribution and you should comment on what you believe would be useful and interesting to the group.

Answer Preview 

Who should pay for the EMR System Maintenance and Upkeep?

The system implementation received funding from different sources such as the International Epidemiologic Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA), World Health Organization (WHO), and Rockefeller Foundation. In 2010, IeDEA funding revealed a significant gap as the request for the Ministry of Health to bridge the gap was declined. Because the system was for the benefit of all Ugandans, maintenance and upkeep of the system was the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Health even though they argued that it was Emenyonus’s project. Another source of funding for the EMR system came from data collection and finances from the databases (2020). The only option after the withdrawal of donors from funding the system, the ISS Clinic had to negotiate with the Ministry of Health to take up the responsibility of financing the system because the system would help improve the quality of healthcare for Ugandans patients.

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