An initial investigation into the role of health informatics in the context of global health

Abstract

This paper reports on an initial investigation into the role of health informatics in the context of global health. Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning mortality rates and disease burden are presented and based on these statistics HIV/AIDS is chosen as a clinical domain for investigation. The results highlight the lack of health service capacity in some geographical regions. The Millennium Development Goals (MDG), some funding initiatives and some current and new ways to apply Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are put forward. The paper concludes with a description of a collaborative project between Trinity College Dublin, St. James's hospital Dublin and Mulago hospital, Uganda.