1.1.

SP2: Health Information Infrastructure /ICT

SP 2.1; Improve Internet Service connectivity at all level

Improving internet service connectivity in digital health is crucial for advancing healthcare
delivery, enhancing patient outcomes, and promoting innovation in the healthcare sector.
Objectives:
Increase connectivity coverage, reliability and speed in healthcare facilities to ensure
equitable access to internet connectivity for healthcare institutions, patients, and remote
communities for seamless communication, data exchange and implementation of digital
health systems.
Initiatives:

● Partner with telecommunications companies and government agencies to expand

broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved areas.
● Establish a dedicated telemedicine network to facilitate virtual consultations and
remote healthcare delivery.
● Deploy satellite internet solutions to overcome geographical barriers and provide
internet access to remote and isolated healthcare facilities.
● Upgrade telecommunication infrastructure in healthcare facilities to support high-
speed internet connectivity and digital health applications.

SP 2.2; Robust and resilient LAN and WAN infrastructure at all level

LAN and WAN implementation are foundational elements in building a secure, scalable, and
interconnected digital health ecosystem that supports efficient healthcare delivery, enables
remote care delivery, and enhances patient outcomes. Prioritizing investment in these areas is
essential for healthcare organizations seeking to harness the full potential of digital
technologies to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

Objectives:

To establish a secure, scalable, and high-performance network infrastructure that enables

seamless communication and data exchange among healthcare devices, systems, and
stakeholders within the organization's LAN, as well as with external entities over the WAN,
ensuring patient data privacy, integrity, and regulatory compliance.

Initiatives:
 ● Adopt national scalable LAN and WAN architecture based on the healthcare
institutions geographical spread and connectivity requirements.
● Implement redundant WAN connections and failover mechanisms to ensure
continuous connectivity in the event of a network outage or hardware failure.
● Develop standards for network performance, bandwidth requirements, and scalability
to accommodate future growth and technological advancements.
● Partner with regional Amhara Science and Technology Commission for monitoring
quality of work during LAN and WAN installation and implementation.

SP 2.3; Implement resilient and robust data center and disaster recovery

Robust data center and disaster recovery measures aim to prevent data breaches, unauthorized
access, or loss of patient data, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations such as
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and GDPR (General Data
Protection Regulation). Implementing a robust data center and disaster recovery plan for
digital health is crucial for ensuring the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of sensitive
healthcare data.
Objectives:

To establish a data center infrastructure and disaster recovery framework that ensures the
resilience, availability, and security of critical systems and data, enabling the organization to
withstand and recover from disruptions and disasters effectively.

Initiatives:

● Design and build a dedicated regional data center infrastructure to centralize storage,
processing, and management of healthcare systems and data.
● Deploy high-performance computing (HPC) resources within the data center to
support advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence applications
in digital health.
● Distribute workloads across multiple data center servers to mitigate the impact of
hardware failures.
● Deploy robust data protection measures including encryption, access controls, and
data loss prevention tools to safeguard sensitive information.
● Establish a comprehensive disaster recovery plan outlining procedures and protocols.

SP 2.4; Establishing Digital devices Standards.

Digital device standards play a critical role in shaping the technology landscape, fostering
innovation, promoting interoperability, and enhancing the user experience.

Objectives:
To establish standards for digital devices applicable in the health system that involves a series
of activities aimed at defining, developing, implementing, and maintaining the standards.
Initiatives

 Develop comprehensive policies outlining standard specifications, configurations, and

security protocols for digital devices.
 Establish procurement guidelines specifying approved vendors, models, and pricing
thresholds for purchasing digital devices. This ensures consistency in quality,
reliability, and cost-effectiveness across the organization.

SP2.5; Cloud Computing Infrastructure services

Objectives

To implement a cloud computing infrastructure enabling the implementation and accessibility

of digital solutions for an enhanced working environment.
Initiatives

 Collaborate with cloud computing service providers.

 Design a robust network architecture that ensures reliable connectivity between
on-premises resources, the cloud, and end-users.
 Develop a detailed migration plan outlining the steps, timelines, and dependencies
for moving workloads to the cloud.
 Establish robust data governance and security measures to protect sensitive
information stored in the cloud.
 Implement security measures such as encryption, access controls, identity
management, and compliance standards to protect data and infrastructure.
 Develop robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans for cloud-based
services to ensure resilience and minimize downtime in the event of disruptions or
outages.

SP2.6; Digital Health Innovation Hub Development

Digital health technical skill hub focuses on skill development and suggests a dedicated space
where individuals can engage in targeted learning experiences tailored to the specific
requirements of digital health technologies and practices. It communicates a commitment to
supporting professionals in acquiring the knowledge and expertise needed to excel in this
rapidly evolving domain, addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the
digital health sector.

Objectives
To establish fully equipped digital health skill development centers at different levels.

Initiatives

 Strategic Planning and Partnerships with different institutions to leverage resources,

expertise, and data sources.
 Build or procure state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology systems to support data
storage, processing, analysis, and visualization.
 Develop scalable and interoperable platforms and tools to facilitate data sharing,
collaboration, and innovation among stakeholders.
 Foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing through communities
of practice, hackathons, and collaborative projects.

SP2.7; Improve electricity coverage and Enhance backup power infrastructures.

Objectives
Improving electricity infrastructure and enhancing backup power sources can significantly
contribute to a more resilient and reliable energy system.

Initiatives

 Collaborate with Ethiopian electric utility and modernize grid infrastructures.

 Enhance energy storage solutions.
 Promote distributed generation systems like solar energy, wind turbines and
microgrids.
 Enhance resilience and reliability by investing in backup power infrastructure.