Digitalising Hospitals: Public Health Minister Inaugurates Centre

T he Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, has inaugurated a digital centre at the Douala General Hos­ pital, aimed at enhancing medical training, research and professional collaboration through the use of modern communication technolo­ gies. The inauguration ceremony took place on Friday October 30 marked the commissioning of a mul­ timedia and video-conferencing cen­ tre donated to the hospital as part of its corporate social responsibility. The digital centre, christened the Yellow Digital Room, comprises an auditorium, two meeting rooms and a multimedia training room equip­ ped with 20 computers. It also fea­ tures interactive screens, high-de­ finition cameras, video-conferencing equipment, sound systems and in­ ternet connectivity. The facilities are interconnected to enable real- time communication and content sharing. Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of Public Health highlighted the importance of digital technology in modernising healthcare delivery. He noted that the performance of health institutions depended not only on qualified personnel and medical equipment but also on their ability to access, produce and share information efficiently. He explained that digital tools would facilitate continuous professional training, scientific exchanges and collabo­ ration among healthcare professio­ nals, while helping to extend spe­ cialist expertise to health facilities with limited human resources. The Minister also mentioned the potential of telemedicine, particu­ larly in enabling medical specialists in major hospitals such as Douala and Yaoundé to remotely examine diagnostic images and provide gui­ dance to colleagues in other parts of the country. For the Director General of Douala General Hospital, Professor Henry Namme Luma, the centre re...