Collaboration for the development of ICT for health
The purpose of this initiative is to explore the potential of collaborations between WHO and public or private entities involved in information and telecommunications technology (ICT) to achieve the organization’s goals in the health sector and to define a framework and guidelines for ensuring that such collaborations achieve their objectives in a measurable way.
Objectives
- To identify the potential of collaboration between WHO and public or private entities working in the ICT field;
- define a structure and guidelines for these collaborations so that their output addresses the health needs of WHO’s Member States for policy, access, quality and best use while respecting WHO’s general guidelines for working with the private sector. Along with these structure and guidelines;
- develop a method of assessing the impact of such collaborations as a measure of achievement of Target 18 of the Millennium Development Goals, and initiate collaborations between WHO and public or private entities consistent with the above objectives for accomplishing specific projects and goals of the organization.
Approach
Information for a draft framework is being gathered by analyzing ICT and related partnerships currently in existence within WHO HQ and in the Regions. This will be followed by a two-round informal consultation - first internally within WHO, followed by a consultation with a broader group from within as well as outside WHO. The framework will be finalized through a formal consultation. Once finalized, the framework will serve as the basis for a number of initial pilot partnerships with public and private sector entities on specific aspects of ICTs for health.
Deliverables
This work has two initial deliverables:
- consultations between WHO and health related ICT representatives from government, academia, and commercial entities from the developing as well as developed world to achieve consensus on a draft framework;
- a framework describing the workings of public/private collaborations in the ICT field, including guidelines for policy, accessibility, quality, and best use requirements which is consistent with WHO’s general guidelines and policies.
Participate!
You can participate in the creation of the framework by downloading a draft copy of the guideline document and subscribing to the ICT4HEALTH@who.int mailing list. The mailing list will be used to run an electronic consultation process from March 1st, 2006, to May 30th, 2006.
Please note that the guideline document is a draft and will change significantly during the consultation process. It is not at this time an official WHO document and is provided for informational and participation purposes only. If you wish to share this document with others we respectfully ask that you point them to this page so that they can access the latest version. In order to download the document, you will be asked for your contact information. This information is used only to track the distribution of the current draft, and if requested, for the subscription to ICT4HEALTH@who.int.