HEALTH experts and stakeholders have advised the government to embrace the use of digital space in scaling up electronic medical records (EMR).

The system, according to them, will bring efficiency in the country’s healthcare delivery and ease implementation of universal health coverage (UHC).

Presenting a topic entitled 'Unveiling the Power of Digital Health' during the country's maiden International Primary Health Care Conference (IPHC) in Dodoma, Wendy Erasmus, Chief of Health at United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that digital health was a vital cog to help propel health care services, especially at primary level.  

"For instance, for child health, the use of digital health system, including electronic medical records, is vital to improve the sub- sector's performance," she said.  

The health expert added that adoption of digital health was of paramount importance in attaining traceability and quick response as well as in providing timely solutions to various emergency cases in primary healthcare. 

Erick Kitali, director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), said that the government has started to take some initiatives to support digital transformation in the health sector.  "The goal, among others, is to ensure the country’s health sector sails on the same boat with the ongoing rapid development of technology," he said. 

He called on stakeholders to support more training programmes meant to impart health professionals with practical knowledge on digital health to improve service delivery.