Digital platform Shohojoddha to greatly help in battle against Covid-19
The ICT division has joined hands with eGeneration to help persons fight the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic by dint of technology.
To that end, a national digital platform named "Shohojoddha - A Plasma Network" has been formed.
As convalescent plasma therapy is a potential treatment for Covid-19, the platform was initiated collectively by the ICT division, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), A2i Innovation Lab, Sandhani and eGeneration to facilitate the collection and distribution of plasma in Bangladesh.
The info was shared at a webinar titled "Reimagine Healthcare: Shohojoddha - ICT in Battling Covid-19" on July 15.
eGeneration organised the function powered by RTV and together with The Daily Star and the daily Samakal.
"The government has been taking strict measures to guarantee the safety of its citizens in this uncertain time.
The Shohojoddha platform is supposed to treat individuals experiencing this fatal disease," said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT. The federal government seeks to constructively utilise the prevailing infrastructure to boost public health along with establishing new IT infrastructure, he said.
"To achieve this, it is vital to exploit partnerships with private organisations like eGeneration," Palak said.
"We are incredibly proud to build up the technology platform for 'Shohojoddha' and contribute to this noble, life-saving initiative by managing the platform with ICT Division and a2i Innovation Lab," said Shameem Ahsan, chairman of eGeneration Group.
"Besides, eGeneration wants to help the general public and hostipal wards in the country fight this pandemic using technology solutions such as for example ICU over the Cloud, Telemedicine, Tele-radiology, Hospital Management Information System, AI-based Chatbot etc in the same way we helped automate five hospitals of Border Guard Bangladesh with 500 beds."
Shohojoddha is a platform that may contribute immensely in the facilitation of plasma distribution within the united states, said Faruq Ahmed Jewel, head of technology of iLab at A2i.
"Moreover, we can utilise technology to make a doctors' portal database that will include comprehensive and updated information of most doctors connected with our nation. This can enhance the quality of our healthcare immensely."
It is had a need to strengthen Bangladesh's ICT industry and be more accepting towards change, said Priti Chakraborty, chairman of Universal Medical College.
"There is a notion of resistance to any sort of transformation inside our nation which isn't only limited by the healthcare sector. We are able to start with vigorous trainings and by raising awareness among the general public for embracing digital healthcare services."
"The tools we possess to win this battle against the virus are incredibly limited," said Arif Mahmud, head of medical service of Evercare Hospital.
However, a promising treatment for this ruinous illness is the plasma remedy which involves transfusion of plasma from coronavirus recovered patients, he said.
This is a popular belief that after a person tests coronavirus positive, if the plasma transfusion takes place within the first 14 days, the success rate is projected to be very high, Mahmud added.
The statistics regarding the number of beds obtainable in a hospital has to be combined right into a single platform and really should be create immediately as this will permit Bangladeshi residents to effectively track which hospitals they should visit for prompt assistance, said Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, consultant and chief adviser of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research.
This will be a critical support for both, hospitals and patients, he said.
"The pandemic compelled me to utilise and rely on telemedicine to diagnose my patients which made me realise the importance of technology and the huge benefits it provides if improved further," said Parveen Fatima, chairman of Care Hospital.
"To streamline our healthcare processes, we are in need of the government to intervene and assist with the advancement of technology in Bangladesh."
"We have to urge more people to purchase creating more hospital management software which will automate processes starting from patient registration to their discharge. This will tremendously decrease the inconvenience an individual usually experiences," said Al Emran Chowdhury, director and CEO of Bangladesh Specialized Hospital.
ICT has exceedingly advanced in the last couple of years, said Mahbubul Islam, director of the management committee of Labaid Group.
"However, we must modernise the healthcare sector by implementing integrated medical services. The integrated medical services will ensure the delivery of outstanding, top quality and progressive care while creating an effortless experience for the patients which is both important and urgent in the current healthcare sector."
There is absolutely no strict standard health practice management maintenance in Bangladesh, said Gazi Mizanur Rahman, chairman of Gazi Medical College Hospital.
"For instance, the general public opt for a professional for any health issue they could experience without consulting with a doctor first. Before setting up an integrated IT infrastructure, we must establish a standard health practice management."
The involvement of IT in the healthcare sector is incredibly crucial if everyone wants Bangladesh to move forward amidst all of the setbacks caused by this pandemic, said Sulaiman Ahmed, managing director of Oasis Hospital.
"The mindset of our physicians have changed overtime as we are able to witness the vast adaptation of telemedicine," said Tasmima Mamataz, senior consultant of Chittagong Port Hospital.
However, you will find a gap in integration although most of the hospitals are using different hospital management solutions, she said.
A central national medical database could be created, which can store the patient's medical records by making use of technology as it provides convenience for patients to transfer between hospitals, said Mohammad Akhter Ali, senior system analyst of Police Headquarters.
"Health tech solutions such as ICU monitoring system must have been implemented long ago which could have prepared us for facing a pandemic such as this. Currently, we are now exploring different solutions in fact it is important to embrace such technologies now more than ever," said Kamrul Hassan, head of ICU at University of Science and Technology.
"It isn't about investment in technology. It is more about the knowledge and mindset over it. Often times we witness that the patients and even our health practitioners are reluctant about the adaptation of technology," said Nurul Hasan, finance director of Oasis Hospital.
