The Health Ministry is planning to roll out the electronic Patient Information System or ePIS at the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu by the first week of next month. This is following a successful pilot of the ePIS at the same hospital. The system will be rolled out for the rest of the country by the mid of next year.
The electronic Patient Information System is an integrated system with the aim to enhance the country’s health service by digitizing the health system.
The health ministry piloted the new system at the national referral hospital a few months ago. The health minister said, it saw no major challenges and stated that they are hopeful it would be successful in all health facilities.
“If you can get big institutions like JD(WNRH) running smoothly, then I think the smaller ones should not have many problems because the smaller ones, of course, do not have many caseloads,” said Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo.
The minister said although there were no major challenges, the requirement to submit the citizenship identity card was seen as an issue. And therefore, the ministry is advocating people to bring their CID cards and any other identification document for those without the CID.
The ministry is also looking at ways to put up a system in health facilities without internet facilities.
“Of course, connectivity will always be important. For now, except for a few health facilities, all health facilities are connected to the internet,” said the Health Minister. “We are also working closely with the GoVTech (Agency) so that we have this system in place. The connectivity has to be there.”
Similarly, the minister said, the system is fully secured with backup systems. After rolling it out first for the outpatient department, it will be carried out for the laboratory. This is because there are more than 20 complex modules or units like the laboratory, pharmacy and radiology among others.
The project is a part of the Digital Drukyul Flagship Programme.
Kinley Dem
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
