Editor
Dr Ahmad Risk 

HIE Library Archive 1998/9  

Institute of Health Informatics launched

Today, Monday 21 September 1998, the UK launched the 'Virtual' Institute of Health Informatics at a meeting and workshop in London.  The launch was organised by the Council of Science Technology Institutes Health Care Scientific Advisory Committee and the UK Department of Trade and Industry.

The Institute of Health Informatics will bring together in a unique partnership the National Health Service, academia and information technology and healthcare organisations, to share research, resources and expertise.

The National Institute will operate through 9 'first wave' focal or regional Virtual Institutes covering the majority of regions of the British Isles.

At the workshop, Mr Frank Burns, the outgoing head of the Information Management Group of the NHS Executive spoke about the much delayed new national strategy for IM&T in British health care delivery.

Editor's comment:

Although I applaud the vision and energies behind the ideals of the Institute, I am deeply concerned about the ominous absence of government funding for at least the seed phase of development.

The potential returns on the work of the national and focal institutes are huge.   That demands substantial investment to realise those returns.  The UK government must ensure that all players see it demonstrate its seriousness about health informatics investment.

Goodwill and collaboration alone cannot succeed in delivering the vision of the Institute.