The Queensland government has earmarked $119.9 million for health ICT in 2016-17.
The funding will go to the “continued state-wide roll out of clinical and administrative support systems and technology equipment replacement,” budget documents state.
“These systems will ensure the right information and technology is available to the right people at the right time in line with emerging technologies and will ensure the sustainability of eHealth service delivery.”
The state government handed down the budget yesterday.
“Queensland Health has developed indicative five year capital priorities for internal planning purposes,” budget documents state. “These priorities provide a comprehensive, forward looking view of priority health infrastructure and ICT projects across Queensland.”
Queensland Health in September released a 20-year eHealth strategy that envisaged spending $300 million on ICT infrastructure, $100 million on business systems, $730 million on clinical systems, and $130 million on the “digital future” of the health system — information interoperability and eHealth foundations.
Underinvestment in ICT and poor ICT project delivery performance have resulted in out "out-of-date infrastructure, ageing technology, and highly customised and heavily integrated bespoke systems," the document stated.