Role of Health Technologies in Regional Healthcare Systems

By Adham R Ismail, MS, MBA, PhD

Regional Adviser, Health Technology and Biomedical Devices (HMD)

Department of Health Systems & Services Development (DHS)

Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO), World Health Organization (WHO)

Presentation Outline

Health technologies play a contradictory role in contemporary healthcare systems. On one hand they provide an opportunity for better health care services, while on the other hand the lack of national systems for standardizing their selection and use may lead to disproportionate escalations in delivery costs. Accordingly, to maximize their benefits while containing their burgeoning costs, proper management plans should be developed.

The aim of the presentation is to raise the awareness of participants to the role that health technologies play in regional healthcare systems as one of the important foundations for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease and as one of the key drivers of growth of out-of-packet expenditures on healthcare.

The presentation will explore ways and means for maximizing the benefits of health technologies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (which is comprised of 22 countries, including Jordan) and WHO strategies to build efficient national health technology programs that can effectively mange these technologies. The main outline of the presentation can be summarized as follows:

• Introduction: Definition, scope and benefits of Health Technologies
• HT in Contemporary Health Systems: The location of health technologies in recent WHO health system framework and/or models.
• Economic Impact of HT: Current economic trends in healthcare expenditure, expenditures on technology, and relation to escalating healthcare delivery costs.
• The Regional Situation: Case studies and surveys that demonstrate the weak management of health technologies in the region.
• WHO Working Strategies: The main 4 directions that WHO follows to build efficient and effective national health technology programs; which includes:
  • National Policies & Regulations
  • Access
  • Quality and Safety
  • Management and Use
• Conclusions and Recommendations