CIMAS Health Group chief information officer, Foster Akaketwa, has stressed the need for a centralised health management system in the country to combat data fragmentation and ensure vital health information is shared nationwide.
He made these remarks following Cimas Health Group's partnership with the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) to address Zimbabwe's healthcare concerns through innovation and technology.
"We have seen solutions that try to ensure that we reduce data fragmentation," he said in an interview.
"At the moment, we have service providers running different platforms and some of the proposals are that we have a centralised health management system so that we have data being shared by everybody in the country.
"When we do analytics on this data, we come up with a lot of solutions that can be relevant for everybody."
Akaketwa emphasised practicality and cost-effectiveness in evaluating solutions.
"To evaluate solutions, we assess their practicality, cost, and clarity in addressing the business problem," he noted.
"We prioritise the business problem over the technology, as the implementation process is crucial to determine if the solution effectively addresses the problem at hand."
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ICT, Postal and Courier Services minister Tatenda Mavetera urged the healthcare system to implement locally tailored solutions.
"Healthcare systems around the world face rising costs, growing demands and complex challenges... We need home-grown solutions that are efficient, accessible, and sustainable."
Mavetera advised leveraging technology to address critical healthcare issues.
"This is indeed the promise of innovation and digital transformation... Technology is not just a tool; it is the lifeblood of our development strategies, especially in sectors like healthcare."
At the Healthathon'24 event held in Harare recently, young innovators presented artificial intelligence solutions for cost reduction and accessibility.
The standout project, digital application Epi, developed by Munashe Dube, Rutendo Gatsi, and Lincoln Casette, won US$1 500.
Those placed second and third positions walked away US$1 000 and US$750 richer, while the fourth and fifth pocketed US$500 and US$400, respectively.
