ABSTRACT

The document summaries

the urgent need for ICTO &
ICTA to be included and
enhanced for ET&R Unit &
NIHS, Kalutara; in view of
making the future of
Education, Training, &
Research in health staff
training ready for the digital
transformation.

DDG, ET&R Unit

Prepared by ET&R Unit, Ministry o

Justification For ICTO/ICTA Officers For ETRU & NIHS

Version 1.0
Introduction

The Information Communication Technology Service of Sri Lanka is a vital service which aims to provide
efficient and effective communication services to enable the achievement of the strategic objectives of
any given department in line with the country's development.

Under the guidance of the Head of Department, Officers or Assistants are responsible for the
transparent implementation of IT strategies & effective delivery of ICT services. He/she is responsible to
correctly interpret ICT policies & procedures and apply it in their respective areas of work. He/she is
expected to play a major role in promoting a collaborative, citizen-oriented approach to developing ICT
Services.

The Education, Training and Research Unit (ETRU) of Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka is responsible for the
training of all the allied healthcare service providers excluding doctors and dental surgeons. The unit
offers basic training annually for over 4000 Nursing Officers (Basic Training), Medical Laboratory
Technologists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Radiographers, Public Health
Inspectors, Health Entomology Officers, Electro-Encephalographers, Ophthalmic Technologists, Dental
Technicians, School Dental Therapists, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Public Health Laboratory Technicians, &
Hospital Attendants.

In addition, ETRU also annually trains over 1000 students in post basic training programs such as
Psychiatry Nurses training, ward management & supervision training, Public Health Nursing Sister
training, Public Health Nursing Officer training, teaching & supervision training, & midwifery training.
ETRU also offers in-services training for over 10,000 Consultants, Medical officers, Principals/Tutors,
Nursing officers, PSM categories, Paramedical, PPO/PPA/DO/HMA/MA, Health assistants & Other related
staff annually.

The ET&R Unit plays a critical role in the administration of in-service training programs in the health
sector by providing technical and financial assistance. The ET&R Unit evaluates training proposals for
eligibility based on the training needs reported by relevant institutions such as PDHS, RDHS, hospitals,
and other health organizations. Training programs that met the qualifying requirements were sponsored.
The use of funds is being tracked and assessed.

Furthermore, the ET&R unit works with the Ceylon Medical College Council (CMCC), the University
Grants Commission (UGC), and other important academic and professional institutions and organizations
in Sri Lanka to develop the health sector's human resource capability.

The Ministry of Health's ET&R Unit, in partnership with the National Health Research Council (NHRC),
coordinates research initiatives to promote health and health-related research in Sri Lanka. The NHRC
reviews the research proposals submitted to the unit for financing and provides funds for the accepted
ideas through the consolidated fund.

The National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) is the premier public health institute in Sri Lanka, with a
long history in healthcare. Its primary mandate is to train health manpower for the country, but it also
provides primary health care services to a large population of over 300,000 surrounding the institute, in
addition to its training role. It also serves as a WHO collaborating training center.

NIHS provides basic training programmes (PHI, PHM, MLT, Pharmacist, & Tuberculosis Assistants), post-
basic training programmes (Public Health Nursing, Public Health Nursing Tutor), more than 20 in-service
training programmes, post-graduate attachments, & NIHS caters to specific international training
programs aimed specifically at SARRC nations.
Justification

Given the crucial role of the ETRU in the administration of in-service training programs in the health
sector and the increasing reliance on technology in the modern world, it is essential to have a strong and
efficient ICT team to support the unit's operations. The ICT team plays a critical role in ensuring the
transparent implementation of IT strategies and the effective delivery of ICT services. The team is
responsible for correctly interpreting ICT policies and procedures and applying them in their respective
areas of work. They are also expected to play a major role in promoting a collaborative, citizen-oriented
approach to developing ICT Services.

The recruitment of 2 Information Communication Technology Officers (Degree Holders in ICT) and 2
Information Communication Technology Assistants (Higher National Diploma Holders in ICT) would
greatly enhance the capacity of the ETRU to provide efficient and effective training services to the
healthcare service providers. The Officers would be responsible for designing and implementing ICT
strategies, overseeing the implementation of the Training Management Information System, Research
Repository, and the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Database. They would also be
responsible for providing technical support to the ICT Assistants and other staff members in the unit.

The ICT Assistants, on the other hand, would be responsible for providing day-to-day support in the
implementation of the ICT policies and procedures. They would be responsible for maintaining and
updating the Training Management Information System, Research Repository, and the CPD Database.
They would also be responsible for providing technical support to the staff members in the unit.

The Training Management Information System is an upcoming online database management which will
house over 10,000 students & teachers. The main purpose of the project is to integrate distinct sections
of the organization into consistent manner so that complex functions can be handled smoothly by any
technical or non-technical persons. There are numerous functionalities and tools that are important
aspects of school resource management. When it comes to the average school management system,
each school has different requirements. Because the evaluation of components of school management
systems differs, it is critical to first understand the main components of the school management model
that would be ideal for each school. The project would require the expertise of the ICT Officers and
Assistants to enter the initial data and look after the day-to-day requirements of the system.

Moreover, the unit has recently launched the Learning Management System (LMS) for Preservice
Training Programme for PHM, which saw ~1000 PHM students being enrolled in the system for the
Moodle, ICT, & Human Body. This system aims to improve the quality of training for healthcare
professionals and requires continuous maintenance and upgrades to ensure its smooth functioning. The
ICT team will be responsible for providing live training, instructional videos, and WhatsApp support
groups to mitigate the challenges faced during the initial launch of the LMS. The future LMS is expected
to oversee over 10,000 students annually in all disciplines and ICTO/ICTA officers are essential for the
management of these thousands of students which include managing student support, mass user
management such as mass enrollments.

A brief summary of their works are mentioned in the next section.

 Summary of expected work
ET&R Unit, Ministry of Health, Colombo

All duties will be assigned by CHI, DDG (ET&R), Director (Training), Director (Research)
Job Role
Job Description ET&R Specific Context
ICTO ICTA
Information System
1. Drafting designs of information
 ICT Roadmap for ET&R Unit ✓
and communication technology.
 Office ICT Use Policy
 National LMS Use Policy
 CPD Management System Use
Policy
2. Drafting policies of information  Training Management
✓
and communication technology. Information System Use Policy
 Student Database Use Policy
 Research Repository Use Policy
 ET&R Website Use Policy
 NHRC Website Use Policy
3. Identification of information
technological solutions for
institutional information and
communication technology
requirements. (Requirement
 Prepare ICT Procurement Plans ✓
Analysis, System Analysis).
Performing the preliminary
activities related to designing of
information technological
solutions. (System Designing).
4. Conducting Technical evaluation  Prepare ICT Specification Sheets
✓
relevant to the filed  Prepare TEC Documents
5. Implementation/ evaluation of
Information and Communication
Technology Projects.
6. Generation of information system
reports for management
requirements (MIS reports).
7. Coordinating, and maintaining
links with internal/ external
institutions for activities related to
the specialized filed.
Information Technology
1. Developing, testing, implementing
and managing software for
identified requirements.
(Programming/ Development,
Testing, Implementation and
Maintenance).
2. Development, administration and
maintenance of database-
(Database Administration).
3. Performing the activities related to
✓ ✓
Providing reports to DDG, Director
(Training), Director (Research),
Consultant Health Informatician, &
✓ ✓
Medical Officers of ET&R on all
information related to ICT of ET&R
Unit.
 Health Information Unit
 Registered service providers with ✓ ✓
Ministry of Health
 Learning Management System
(Basic Training) *
 Learning Management System
(National) *
*
Includes Enrolling New Users, Bulk
User Management, Editing User ✓
Details, Removing Users, Surveillance
of User Profile, Create/Update
Courses, Create/Update LMS
Resources & Activities & Activity &
Reporting
 National CPD Management
System
 National Training Management
✓ ✓
Information System
 ET&R Student Database
 ET&R Research Repository
 Website of ET&R ✓ ✓
 designing, updating, and
maintenance of official websites
any performing the key duties in
this regard.
4. Updating software so as to cater
the requirements of the users.
5. Implementation of necessary
actions for the safety of software
 Website of National Health
Research Council
 ET&R Specific Software
 Operating Systems
✓ ✓
 Anti-Virus Software
 Related office software
 Security policies ✓ ✓

and data.
6. Coordinating, and maintaining
 Health Information Unit
links with internal/external
 Registered service providers with ✓
institutions for activities related to
Ministry of Health
the specialized filed.
Computer Networks / Security
1. Development, administration, and
maintenance of computer network  Development of network plan ✓

(Network Administration).
2. Identifying the errors in computer
hardware/ network hardware and
✓ ✓
taking action to rectify them and
maintenance.
 Should ensure uninterrupted
3. Administration in respect of
connectivity in internet and email ✓ ✓
internet/ e-mail facilities.
provision.
4. Performing the activities related to ✓

computer networking, network

security administration and
performing the key duties in this
regard. (Network Security
 Administration).
5. Coordinating, and maintaining
 Health Information Unit
links with internal/ external
 Registered service providers with ✓
institutions for activities related to
Ministry of Health
the specialized filed.

National Institute of Health Sciences, Kalutara

All duties will be assigned by CHI & Director (NIHS). Unless otherwise mentioned all work below are
applicable to NIHS, PHI School, Pharmacy School, Distance Learning Centre, Nurse Training School,
PHLT, MLT, Mahagammedda Clinical Centre, MOH Kalutara, MOH Beruwala, Aluthgama Hospital, &
Dharga Town Hospital
Job Role
Job Description ET&R Specific Context
ICTO ICTA
Information System
1. Drafting designs of information
 ICT Roadmap for NIHS, Kalutara ✓
and communication technology.
2. Drafting policies of information  Office ICT Use Policy
✓
and communication technology.  NIHS Website Use Policy
3. Identification of information
technological solutions for
institutional information and
communication technology
requirements. (Requirement  Oversee ICTMU
✓
Analysis, System Analysis).  Prepare ICT Procurement Plans
Performing the preliminary
activities related to designing of
information technological
solutions. (System Designing).
4. Conducting Technical evaluation  Prepare ICT Specification Sheets
✓
relevant to the filed  Prepare TEC Documents
5. Implementation/ evaluation of
Information and Communication ✓ ✓

Technology Projects.

6. Generation of information system
reports for management
requirements (MIS reports).
7. Coordinating, and maintaining
links with internal/ external
institutions for activities related to
the specialized filed.
Information Technology
1. Developing, testing, implementing
and managing software for
identified requirements.
(Programming/ Development,
Testing, Implementation and
Maintenance).
2. Development, administration and
maintenance of database-
(Database Administration).
3. Performing the activities related to
designing, updating, and
maintenance of official websites
any performing the key duties in
this regard.
4. Updating software so as to cater
the requirements of the users.
Providing reports to DDG, Director
(Training), Director (Research),
Consultant Health Informatician, &
✓ ✓
Medical Officers of NIHS on all
information related to ICT of NIHS,
Kalutara.
 ET&R Unit, Ministry of Health
 Health Information Unit
✓ ✓
 Registered service providers with
Ministry of Health
 Learning Management System
(Basic Training) *
 Learning Management System
(National) *
*
Includes Enrolling New Users, Bulk
User Management, Editing User ✓
Details, Removing Users, Surveillance
of User Profile, Create/Update
Courses, Create/Update LMS
Resources & Activities & Activity &
Reporting
✓ ✓
 Website of NIHS, Kalutara ✓ ✓
 NIHS Specific Software ✓ ✓
  Operating Systems
 Anti-Virus Software
 Related office software
5. Implementation of necessary
actions for the safety of software  Security policies ✓ ✓

and data.
6. Coordinating, and maintaining  ET&R Unit, Ministry of Health
links with internal/external  Health Information Unit
✓
institutions for activities related to  Registered service providers with
the specialized filed. Ministry of Health
Computer Networks / Security
1. Development, administration, and
maintenance of computer network  Development of network plan ✓

(Network Administration).
2. Identifying the errors in computer
hardware/ network hardware and
✓ ✓
taking action to rectify them and
maintenance.
 Should ensure uninterrupted
3. Administration in respect of
connectivity in internet and email ✓ ✓
internet/ e-mail facilities.
provision.
4. Performing the activities related to
computer networking, network
security administration and
✓
performing the key duties in this
regard. (Network Security
Administration).
5. Coordinating, and maintaining  ET&R Unit, Ministry of Health
links with internal/ external  Health Information Unit
✓
institutions for activities related to  Registered service providers with
the specialized filed. Ministry of Health