adminARUSHA. — A Tanzanian young graduate of the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) has developed a software that would help reduce patients’ queues in public health facilities. The Patients’ Record Management System, developed by Frank Lema (27), is expected to improve health care services for Tanzanians living in urban centres and rural areas.
Lema, who pursued Advanced Diploma in Computer Science at the institute, is one of the Arusha-based eleven ICT entrepreneurs of the Dar Technohama Business Incubator (DTBi).
DTBi is an independent autonomous entity of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) that promotes the growth of ICT technology-based emerging companies contributing to job creation and enhanced economic health of the nation and operates as a non-profit company.
Graduated at IAA last year, the young man said his idea came after realizing that many people spend long time in accessing health care services in public health facilities.
“I had a dream that one day I would come up with something which will help address the challenge in hospitals. The device intends to make medical practitioners easily attend their patients, “ said Lema, who hasn’t undergone in any health care training.
According to Lema, the software will be installed in a few public hospitals before expanding the service across Tanzania.
“I believe, this will improve health care service delivery in the country,” he said, asking for government’s backup in his endeavours.
Explaining on how the technology works, Lema said the software will be installed in computers in every department of a particular health facility, where all information on a particular patient will be stored.
“This software will make patient’s information easily accessed in all hospital departments starting at the Out Patient Department (OPD). So, a patient will be required to show his/her registration number to the doctor and the doctor will just work on that number to get access to patient’s information,” he said.
“When a doctor recommends a patient to go for testing in the hospital lab, lab technician will also use the patient’s number and get the doctor’s instructions on that particular patient.
“And after testing, the lab findings will be seen to the doctor who can recommend for proper medicines and a pharmacist will just click the number to provide the required medicines.”
“This software intends to reduce time, bureaucracy and improve health service delivery in the country,” Lema said as introducing his software before the Arusha-based ICT entrepreneurs.
“This is great. That is what the government want.
“We want youth of this nature who can think on how to solve people’s problems and in turn create job opportunities,” Arumeru District Commissioner Munasa Nyirembe said, praising the young man’s endeavours. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter