Abstract:
The prospect of GIS in healthcare is remarkably broad. Its ability to link geography and
data unleashes critical information which guides health researchers, policy makers and
medical practitioners to better leverage limited resources; thereby, positively impact the
public via targeted medical intervention. The following study attempts to merge the
discipline of geography, public health and informatics to understand the health trends
of a geographic population and evaluate health outcomes by linking health data with
socio-demographic, environmental and healthcare services infrastructure. For the
purpose of broader policy development, the study provides insights into the healthcare
service utilisation patterns and barriers with a point of view that entails spatial and
landscape perspectives.
The proposed study includes
- Feasibility study of Geographic Information System (GIS) as a public health
tool in facilitating effective and targeted health care planning.
- Understanding the regulatory roadblocks associated with the implementation of
e-health tools.
- Understanding the prospects and problems in the application of GIS in the
Indian context.
The overall objective of the study is to understand the feasibility and propose a
framework for planning and implementing a comprehensive strategy to improve
accessibility and delivery of health services by applying GIS in Health Informatics
research.
