Healthcare data bank to help doctors in their clinical decisions

The Health Ministry has created a comprehensive healthcare data bank structured for query and analysis purpose under the Malaysia Health Data Warehouse (MyHDW), to aid doctors in making clinical decisions.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the MyHarmony function under MyHDW would be used to roll out the reference set for oral health, pharmacy and pathology early next year.

The systematised nomenclature of medicine - Clinical Term (Snomed CT) in MyHarmony function allows for automated data interpretations that cover a wide range of specialities and requirements besides the ability to use preferred terms that suit local preferences.

MyHarmony was initially tasked to generate cardiology Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a cardiology centre in 2014 where it had successfully generated seven out of eight cardiology KPIs.

"Currently, another work is underway for the development of a reference set for oral health. 

"Soon, the work will include the development of pathology reference set and a drug data model,“ Dzulkefly (below) said after officiating the Snomed CT Expo 2019 here today.

The mapping of traditional Chinese medicine terms from Mandarin to Snomed CT is currently ongoing, he said.

When asked if the MyHarmony function would replace doctors' role in diagnosis, the health minister ruled out the possibility since it only acts as a tool to aid doctors in making decisions.

"No way could technology replace the doctors because they have to physically examine the patients to make decisions and to initiate investigations.

"In fact, I fear that if doctors are not able to embrace this technology, they will be left behind," he added.

The annual Snomed CT Expo was organised by Snomed International and co-hosted by the ministry with the theme 'Leading Health Innovation through Data.'

The event, which entered its 11th edition this year, recorded more than 300 local and international delegates attending the meeting and expo, which is being held from Oct 27 to Nov 1.

-Bernama