A BMD team developed a open-source EHR solution for the Leishmaniasis Research and Treatment Centre in Gondar, Ethiopia.
In this era of evidence based medical practice, low and middle income countries (LMICs) are significantly affected by the scarcity of locally generated data. This is mainly due to the absence of electronic medical record systems even in large medical and research centres. Most still use paper- based patient registration and documentation. However, the shift to digital records can benefit both clinicians and patients. Developing countries need health information technology more than other countries due to the challenges in patient tracking and exchanging data even within one medical centre. In Ethiopia, similar to other LMICs, medical recording, patient transfers and consultations are all done with paper-based documentation, and electronic medical records are not implemented in the majority of the country’s facilities.
This work is being founded by from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement Nº 642609.