Implementation of the eHealth Project in Latvia: Project audit perspective

Pulmanis, Emils (2016): Implementation of the eHealth Project in Latvia: Project audit perspective. Published in: PM World Journal , Vol. 5, No. 10 (7 October 2016): pp. 1-34.

Abstract

In order to improve effectiveness of provision of healthcare service, the project implemented by the Ministry of Health- ”E-health in Latvia” is a step towards the right direction. It will provide the possibility for patients to ensure a greater control over their health issues, by maintaining healthy habits, lifestyle, increase substantiation of adoption of decisions and speed of service in the healthcare industry, ensuring quality and accessible information; patients will receive more quality services and in a shorter period of time for issuance of prescription drugs. Nevertheless, the policy prepared by the Ministry of Health in the area of e-Health will not be implemented in the planned scope and the planned term; therefore the target-to improve the effectiveness of the provision of healthcare services will only be partially achieved. The project „e-Health in Latvia” is necessary and important for the society, but already from the very beginning there have been substantial deficiencies (errors) - the professionals of industry are not involved in the project, multiple changes of institutions implementing the project, ineffective project management and finally, there has not been sufficient supervision of the project. This Paper analyzes the implementation of the e-Health Project in Latvia from the audit perspective, showing th results from the performance-compliance audit carried out by the supreme audit institution – State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Project management, e-health, public administration, planning
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics; D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D61 - Allocative Efficiency ; Cost-Benefit Analysis; H - Public Economics > H4 - Publicly Provided Goods > H43 - Project Evaluation ; Social Discount Rate; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy > O22 - Project Analysis

References

1.Audit report “Is the project „E-health in Latvia” a step towards the right direction?”, Performance Audit „Information System in Health Care industry”, Audit performed, based on the Third Audit Department of the State Audit Office Task No.2.4.1-7/2014, 2015, State Audit Office. The audit was performed by the head of the audit group – Senior State Auditor Mareks Zvirgzdiņš, State Auditor Līga Kotāne and the Information Systems Auditor Mārtiņš Vilmanis.ISBN 9789934854729.

2.Dzenowagis, Joan (2005), Connecting for Health: Global Vision, Local Insight, ISBN9241593903, World Health Organization.

3.National eHealth strategy toolkit (2012), ISBN 978 92 4 154846 5 (WHO), World Health Organization.

4.Survey of the health care services „Exploring the challenges of implementing e-health: a protocol for an update of a systematic review of reviews”, Available at http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006773.full.

5.Study of the European Commission, Benchmarking Deployment of eHealth among General Practitioners (2013).

6.Guidelines „E-health in Latvia” for years 2008 – 2010, Ministry of Health.