The use of technology in the health sector is on the rise. The intersection of these two industries leads to interesting legal questions relating to digital risk, including big data analytics, data security and privacy.
In his budget speech on 10 May 2016, Minister Aaron Motsoaledi discussed the following interesting medical technology initiatives being undertaken by the Department of Health.
1. Stock visibility system (SVS)
What is it?
The SVS is a mobile application that monitors stock levels for ARVs, anti TB medication and vaccines. It provides real-time information at any geographic location that can be accessed via the web.
Who uses it?
The SVS will be used by health professionals.
What purpose does it achieve?
The app aims to help both health professionals and the department manage drug-stockouts where health facilities cannot treat patients because of lack of medication.
2. Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD)
What is it?
The CCMDD allows stable patients to collect chronic medication from pick-up points convenient to them.
Who uses it?
The app will be used by patients.
What purpose does it achieve?
The CCMDD saves patients’ time and money by reducing the waiting times at clinics and volumes of patients at the clinics.
3. Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG)
What is it?
The STG is a free mobile application that disseminates the ‘standard treatment guidelines’. The standard treatment guidelines inform patients to ensure the rational use of medicines. It also works offline and is available from all app stores. It allows doctors to report stockouts directly to Pretoria where the department can investigate and assist.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed interest in the app and it has great usage already.
Who uses it?
Anyone can use the STG.
What purpose does it achieve?
This app helps with decision-making at the point-of-care. It also assists doctors to efficiently report stockouts directly without doctors having to follow internal management protocols of various health facilities.
It also provides phone numbers and physical addresses of health facilities and is linked to Google maps. It allows the patients to report any side effects of any medication from anywhere in the country. Patients are also able to report stockouts.
The app allows the department to know who is using the app and who makes reports.
4. Patient Health Information System (PHIS)
What is it?
The PHIS is a rollout of computer hardware in clinics for the management of patient records and data.
Who uses it?
It will be used by clinic administrators.
What purpose does it achieve?
It assists in addressing the poor administration of patients’ records and data and reduces patient waiting times. It also helps prevent patients from receiving more medication than required.
The system allows you to trace any patient on the system, namely information about when and which clinics were previously visited, what medication was received and the amount of medication dispensed.
Digital risk
Medical data is one of the most sought after types of information by cybercriminals as it is in high demand on the black market. A recent study by Ponemon states that “the value of medical records is many times more valuable than other kinds of information about individuals.”
The use of medical technology in these initiatives brings with it many benefits but appropriate data security measures and safeguards must be implemented to protect this information to reduce the risk of patient or other sensitive information becoming compromised. This includes compliance with laws that promote protection, such as the Protection of Personal Information Act 2013.
