Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu Speaks on eHealth

I was recently surprised and delighted to see the Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak about eHealth, and specifically reference the eHealth 2010 conference in Vancouver.

For the benefit of those internet users who cannot access the video, and so that his speech attracts more attention from the Google bots, we have decided to post the transcript of his speech here.

"It is with great pleasure that I invite you to join Canada's Health informatics and telehealth communities eHealth 2010 conference in Vancouver BC next May. The theme of the conference is 'from investment to impact'. This is a theme that will strike a chord with all delegates as there has been considerable human and intellectual investment not just in Canada but accross the world. Governments and health care providers recognize the potential of eHealth to help address health system challenges.

I truly believe that eHealth provides us the best means of providing the accessible and quality health care to the poorest and most vulnerable. To be sure, this holds true for the residents of Canada as much as it does for developing nations. I regard the term eHealth to include many different types of helpful tools. It encompasses all of the emergening applications of information and communication technology in eHealth ranging from the electronic health record to elearning and telemedicine applications to the use of mobile applications to bring health care into remote communities and into homes. I believe that eHealth is a great equalizer between the rich and poor, healthy and sick and as the ISfTeH ambassador for eHealth I have vowered to work for its implementation around the world.

I encourage all of you to use your power for the good of the eHealth revolution. The impact that you and your fellow delegates at the eHealth 2010 conference can have on the Canadian health care system can provide a model for other countries from around the world who are looking to you to lead by example. The organizers of eHealth 2010 inform me that the learning objectives for the conference include among other things gaining a better appreciation of the impact and outcomes achieved in terms of the interactions of patients providers and the health care system itself. This objective implies a system of evaluation. And so another objective is how to do benefits realization. These are lofty goals. But they relfect the keen desire of the Canadian health care system to ensure that the full range of investments have been and will continue to be aimed at improving the health care system through the application of information and communication technologies.

This conference has grown to the largest eHealth event and tradeshow in Canada and once again will showcase a set of models demonstrating interoperability which is so very important if the investments in hardware and software are to achvive their potential. The large audience that is expected ofers an unequaled opportunity for networking with your colleagues and for the very first time this conference will also include Canada's telehealth professionals. Thank you for givign me this opportunity to speak to you and I wish you a most successful and productive conference."

- Most Reverend Archbiship Desmond Tutu