ICT Remote Health Services A Pointer To The Future

1 July, 2002

ICT Remote Health Services A Pointer To The Future

Northland’s proposal to initiate a pilot project for remote health services points the way ahead for New Zealand ICT innovation, says the Executive Director of the Information Technology Association of New Zealand, Mr Jim O’Neill.

“The Government’s nation-wide broadband strategy lends itself perfectly to such services around the country. ITANZ would like to see the Northland initiative given full backing by health professionals and administrators”, he said today.

“Harnessing the power of today’s technology to the innovativeness of New Zealand’s own health software sector to drive health outcomes can contribute to a radical shift in the provision of health services.

“The tyranny of distance is alive and well in most of our health services, with skill and resource shortages blighting access to health, particularly in provincial and rural areas.

“Possibilities with ICT are almost endless – from distant consultation and diagnosis to surgical procedures carried out online and remotely. It may well be that the health professionals in the major centres are as excited as their colleagues in rural districts at the opportunities opened up in this area.”

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ITANZ represents the Information and Communications Technology industry of New Zealand; a business sector that generates combined annual revenues in excess of $11 billion. ITANZ members account for approximately 85% of this revenue and directly employ more than 30,000 people. Our aim is to maximize the economic and social potential inherent in these technologies to create advantages for all New Zealanders.

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