Digital Health and Future of Healthcare in Pakistan

Abstract

In today's fast paced world, the use of Information Technology (IT) in dispensing quality healthcare forms a cornerstone for the development of any health system. While the standard of Medical Education and training is quickly gaining impetus within Pakistan, we are severely lacking in use of digital platforms and electronic records to aid the process of healthcare delivery. There's no dearth of talent in Pakistan; in the field of Medicine or IT. However, there is a considerable lack in the understanding of how IT can revolutionize healthcare delivery. We see that there is an urgent need for the governmental institutions and the private sector medical institutions to recognize the importance of digital health in making medical practice more effective, efficient and error proof; so that Pakistan can shake off the burden of a centuries old and obsolete system of healthcare delivery. Here, we propose our roadmap vision for development of digital health systems in Pakistan and propose basic initiatives that must be taken at the grass roots level to expedite this process.