A Critical Evaluation of Government Role in Spatial Data Infrastructures for Healthcare Decision-Making

Abstract

This study critically examines the government's pivotal role in promoting and regulating Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs), with a special focus on the healthcare sector. Through an in-depth analysis of global practices, our research highlights the indispensable value of SDIs in enhancing healthcare decision-making, emergency management, and public health monitoring by facilitating the integration and analysis of geospatial and healthcare data. Despite the evident benefits, the integration of diverse geospatial data sources poses significant challenges, including issues of data standardization, privacy, and interoperability across various stakeholders. Our findings underscore the balance governments must achieve in promoting SDI growth while ensuring data security, privacy, and open access. The study draws on a comprehensive review of literature and case studies to explore the effectiveness of current government strategies in advancing SDI capabilities, while also addressing the ethical considerations and potential barriers to innovation that stringent regulation might impose. By advocating for a collaborative ecosystem that supports data standardization alongside flexibility for innovation, this paper aims to provide insights into how governments can optimize the utility of spatially enabled data in healthcare and beyond. Our conclusion calls for strategic government action to promote a balanced approach to SDI governance, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships, robust data security frameworks, and the fostering of an environment conducive to data sharing and innovation. This research contributes to the discourse on the critical intersection of technology, healthcare decision-making, and governance, offering valuable recommendations for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in the digital and geospatial domains.