Dr Sushanth Pillai, managing director of MEDITECH South Africa, spoke on a panel at DataFest 24.

MEDITECH is planning cooperation with the data science community to accelerate the advancement of healthcare technology across the continent.

This is according to MEDITECH South Africa managing director Dr Sushanth Pillai, who recently spoke at the DataFest Africa 24 conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

The event's discussions centered on data use and innovation in Africa, bringing together a diverse group of regional stakeholders, including data science specialists, healthcare officials, and industry executives.

Dr. Pillai gave instances of how MEDITECH clients use their electronic health records (EHR) data to "deliver better results and outcomes."

This year's conference topic, "Harnessing Data & Technology for Africa's Transformation," highlighted the importance of collaborative innovation in promoting societal transformation.

During the panel session "Revolutionising Healthcare in East Africa: Harnessing Data and AI for Impact," Dr Pillai shared examples of how MEDITECH clients use their EHR data to improve outcomes.

Dr. Pillai provided the example of Botswana, which uses crucial data sets to proactively manage its citizens' health.

He also discussed some of the strategies his company has used "to guarantee that healthcare workers are adequately trained and equipped" to use EHR data with AI and data analytics technologies.

Dr Pillai said the presence of his team at this year’s event demonstrated MEDITECH’s commitment to advancing healthcare through innovative solutions

He added: “We look forward to future collaborations with the data science community as well as contributing to healthcare technology’s ongoing evolution.”