Healthcare Services in Developing Countries of the South Asian Region

Abstract

The rapid growth in information technology (IT) has reshaped traditional infrastructure in several application domains including education, business, and health. Access to patient information, specifically, is vital for effective functioning of a healthcare system; the unavailability of such medical information leads to management issues. IT is no longer perceived as just a supporting tool; it is a tactical necessity for establishing an integrated healthcare infrastructure. Developed nations benefit from the use of modern technology within healthcare to maximize life expectancy and decrease disease. This chapter presents an overview of healthcare conditions of south Asia region. A framework is presented that embeds IT within the healthcare system. The proposed framework has potential to not only restructure but also remove many errors that plague healthcare system. In addition, key problems within the healthcare sector of south Asian countries—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri-Lanka—have been highlighted, and recommendations are proposed to overcome the challenges.