Malaysia moves to revive Telehealth project components

Business Times: THE Health Ministry is in the process of tendering out jobs valued at over RM60 million in its bid to revive the stalled components of the Telehealth project.
The Telehealth Flagship Application comprises four components — the lifetime health plan (LHP), continuing medical education (CME), mass customised or personalised health information and education (MCPHIE) and teleconsultation.
Only the teleconsultation portion was completed within the stipulated time, in a project that was handed in 2000.
“The telehealth project started well ... but it was not founded on pragmatism and there was no adequate stock-taking. Everyone got caught up with the MSC sprit and IT boom,” Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
Following this, Dr Chua said there was a roll-out problem. “There was also the funding problem,” he told Business Times.
Other problems involved the content provider and issues relating to connectivity.
The total cost for the LHP, MCPHIE and CME components is estimated to be RM68 million, which is the remainder of the RM100 million allocated for the Telehealth Project.
The ministry is currently in the process of appointing new consultants to develop the LHP record, which has now been scaled down in magnitude and scope. LHP provides a personalised lifetime health plan, which will allow individuals to achieve a continuum of care to keep them in the highest possible state of health.
The award of the new tender will reactivate 38 sites or government healthcare centres from the original 41 sites with four state hospitals as the hubs. These government hospitals will have access to the electronic medical records of patients.
As for the CME, some technical specifics are being looked at. This contract is yet to be awarded.
CME provides educational programmes to healthcare providers ranging from nurses, paramedics, doctors and surgeons. There is also a virtual library where these parties will be able to access in order to grow their knowledge.
As for the MCPHIE, the job has been completed and the online health portal www.myhealth.gov.my is functioning. The ministry is responsible for updating the content. Through MCPHIE, the public has access to authoritative information on health.
Telehealth is one of the eight components under the Multimedia Super Corridor flagship applications — electronic government, multi-purpose card, smart school, research and development cluster, borderless marketing, worldwide manufacturing web and technopreneur development.
Telehealth would use Internet-based technology to give Malaysians a health service that is both up-to-date and affordable.
Medical Online Sdn Bhd which was awarded the contract to develop the three — LHP, MCPHIE and CME — was to complete the project within five years from June 2001. The company was, however, unable to do so.