This refers to a healthcare system in which all people of a country have access to a full range of healthcare services when needed and wherever needed, without financial hardship, such as health rehabilitation, treatment, health promotion, prevention, and palliative care.
Published in Chapter:
Adaptation to Pandemic Through Universal Access to Innovative Technologies: ICT Access for Future Pandemics
Abiodun Alao (University of Johannesburg, South Africa) and
Roelien Brink (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9418-6.ch003
Abstract
The implementation of information technology into the healthcare sector is inevitable to prevent future pandemics, as COVID-19 had a huge impact on healthcare services and humanity. Therefore, universal access to technologies in managing unforeseen pandemics is necessary. The objective of this study is to examine how healthcare institutions use innovative technologies to address future pandemics. The study reflects on one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, which is to significantly increase access to IT and strive to provide universal and affordable technology access to global citizens by 2030. This is to obtain the vision to work towards building an open, inclusive, and digital network for a secure future. This study used discourse analysis to critically analyze the use of innovative technologies like AI systems, machine learning, the internet, mobile phones, mobile computing, and other technologies adopted to manage the global pandemic. This study recommends to policymakers the importance of universal access to innovative technology to address pandemic issues.