Abstract: Globally, ICT has emerged as a critical enabling-tool to achieve effective facilitation, monitoring and management of service delivery. As governments accept, adopt and move to invest in e-health implementation, there is need to evaluate and understand the state of adoption, the process and impacts at different stages of implementation. In Kenya, eHealth Policy (2016-2030) envisions progressive sustainable adoption, implementation and efficient use of eHealth products and services at all levels of healthcare delivery. The study explored e-health services availability by type and level of implementation to support service delivery at level 3 and 4 healthcare facilities. The presentation is based on data derived from literature review; triangulated with empirical data on e-Health implementation collected during a survey of three county referral hospitals, in western Kenya. The facilities lacked enough technologies in place; poor technological infrastructure, if not wholly lacking and low computer to task ratio. There were significant barriers to e-health implementation; notably, not enough skilled e-health practitioners to drive the implementation process. However, Kenyan government, through Health Policy and with the support of donor community partnership, seek to strengthen and accelerate integration of ICTs into healthcare system and health outcomes.
Keywords: E-Health Services availability, Utilization, Level of Integration, Service Delivery.
|
DOI:
10.17148/IJARCCE.2020.9619
