Contract signed for electronic immunisation registry software

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, on Friday signed a contract for the software that will be used in the implementation of the Electronic Immunisation Registry (EIR) Project.

The contract was signed with United States-based software development firm, ArguSoft America Incorporated.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Conference Room in New Kingston, Dr Tufton underscored the significance of digitising the country’s immunisation records.

He noted that Jamaica has a robust immunisation programme, and by digitising the records, they are kept safe from natural disasters and household accidents, and it will allow for ease of access for treatment at health centres.

“So, the old approach to securing this valuable record has to be abandoned for a newer, more modern approach. And that's what we're seeking to do by upgrading our health system or strengthening our health system. We could not do health system strengthening without electronic immunisation record-keeping as part of the overall electronic health records,” Dr Tufton stated.

He highlighted that the immunisation record-keeping system will provide real-time access to information and safety of access in keeping with the protocols around the country’s data-protection laws.

“It allows for the record of one's history of immunisation and, indeed, treatment for any other vulnerability to be known, which then facilitates easier assessment by a doctor, which then of course facilitates a much more efficient treatment for the patient in question,” Dr. Tufton maintained.

Project Manager for the Electronic Immunisation Registry Project, Dr Melody Ennis, told JIS News that the project began in 2024, and through partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Ministry secured the server and end-user devices on which the record-keeping software will be stored and used.

She indicated that with the contract signed, the software will be customised to meet the local health system’s requirements and will be implemented in 18 pilot sites across the island, including a private facility to ensure complete information capture.

“That customisation process should last about eight months. And we will begin our rollout within that time and after. And once we get all of our challenges corrected, then we will be hoping to launch this registry,” Dr Ennis stated.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of ArguSoft America, Ram Gopalan, expressed gratitude in being selected to be a part of the programme, while highlighting the company’s long history of creating programmes to improve healthcare systems.

Gopalan informed that the company has built systems in India, Zambia, Nigeria, and Cambodia.

“And so, we have a lot of experience, and we work mostly with the local country teams, because we are only the technologists. So, each and every one of you will have a very strong role in making this successful. And we want to extend our hand to work with you because it's really going to make a big difference in a country like Jamaica,” he said.

The EIR Project is designed to record, track, and manage Jamaica’s immunisation data, while improving efficiency, accuracy and accessibility to vaccination records.

- JIS News

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