SINGAPORE – The Singapore Ministry of Health has signed a contract with Accenture to implement the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system, a key enabler of Singapore’s vision toward a national, integrated health care system. 

Ministry officials said the NEHR is designed to improve the quality of healthcare for citizens, lower the costs of health services, and promote more effective health policies.
 
Under the NEHR, key medical information including patient demographics, allergies, clinical diagnoses, medication history, radiology reports, laboratory investigations and discharge summaries will be exchangeable among healthcare providers. Patients are expected to benefit from proper, right-sited disease management and cost savings, as duplicate or unnecessary tests are eliminated and medication errors are reduced.
 
"As the centerpiece of Singapore’s connected health vision, the NEHR is intended to provide a holistic view of a patient’s health information. With this market-leading offering, health care providers can have the right information at the right time to make the best care decisions," said Stephen J. Rohleder, group chief executive of Accenture’s Health & Public Service operating group. "We congratulate the Ministry of Health for taking this bold step to create a new foundation to help support meaningful advances to Singapore’s health care system."
 
The National Electronic Health Record vision was previously announced by Singapore Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Ministry officials said. The intial system release is scheduled for April 2011