1 Introduction
Anywhere in the world the development of electronic
health record (EHR) systems is still an uncertain and
challenging task, calling for a sensitive matching of
local needs to available technologies and resources. Experience
with creating EHR systems for the developing
world is scarce; requirements, priorities and local constraints
are less well understood and probably more heterogenous
than in those developed nations which have
been pursuing EHRs. It seems impossible to suggest a
single EHR architecture and implementation that will
fit all environments and needs [1]. Some environments
have very limited resources, so if we were to concentrate
on an EHR to be usable in developing nations, it must be
compatible with minimal hardware, software, networks,
Internet access and even knowledge of English [2].
In addition to the technological problems in the developing
world, there are common difficulties for EHRs
generally: 1) availability or accessibility – to be available
when and where the individual needs it; 2) maintenance
and ownership– whether the EHR is for “lay
persons” or for healthcare personnel; 3) compatibility –
to be able to exchange data with other health information systems; 4) cost