In a significant development for the healthcare sector, the Minister of Health and prominent medical research stakeholders shared their latest findings during the 5th National Health Research Conference.
The event occurred on Friday at the Hyatt Regency, highlighting how artificial intelligence reshapes various aspects of healthcare and medical research.
Data analytics generated with the aid of artificial intelligence is being used to better understand healthcare trends and inform policy decisions.
Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh in delivering his keynote address at the 5th National Health Research Conference focusing on Digital Health Transformation, held on November 22nd emphasized the importance of technology and innovation in healthcare.
He said, by shifting from paper-based systems to electronic healthcare records, healthcare providers will be able to more reliably access patient information at any location.
“We are not implementing change for the sake of implementing change But we have to implement change to benefit two major stakeholders, our healthcare providers, our doctors, our nurses, our lab techs, everyone. But it must mean something for who? The patient. If the patient doesn’t benefit, you are just changing for the sake of changing, and that makes no sense.”
According to Minister Deyalsingh, the Ministry of Health is ensuring they increase productivity and decrease errors. He said, the Regional Health Authorities play a crucial role, through the implementation of their Picture, Archive and Communication System (PACS).
“We have now integrated all our PAC systems across the board so that the doctor at San Fernando General Hospital, if you took your MRI at Eric Williams they can see it. That’s what we are doing and all our RHE’s are going to be talking to each other by the end of this year. It’s already ongoing.”
President of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor Stephen Joseph, shared his belief that by working together across various sectors, research disciplines and boarders, digital health can be used to truly transform care and make it accessible to all.
According to Minister Deyalsingh, the Ministry of Health is planning to make the new central block at the Port of Spain General Hospital a premier teaching facility in the Caribbean. He said, it will be for all health sciences, whether it is medicine, nursing, pharmacy and allied health sciences