Global e-health policy: From concept to strategy

Abstract

‘Governance’ concerns the actions and means adopted by a society to promote collective action and deliver collective solutions in pursuit of common goals - how to direct, shape or regulate use of something. A notable concern is the fundamental shift in balance and growing influence of all of the globally distributed entities on local, national and global health-related decisions and policy making. The dominance of the World Health Organization, national governments and non-governmental organizations has been superseded by a dominance of private sector conglomerates and private foundations. E-health has been practised in some countries for several decades, and comprises health informatics and telehealth. Global e-health has the ability to cross all geopolitical, socioeconomic, cultural and temporal barriers – to provide health and health care to anyone, anytime, anywhere. The health region’s risk manager advises against the teleconsultation, and the Provincial Privacy Commissioner says that he will examine the issue and provide a response - probably next month.