According to this Executive Summary, "eHealth innovations like electronic health records, computer-assisted prescription systems and clinical databases are transforming health today, and hold even greater promise for the future. ICT [information and communication technology] support clinical care, provide health information to the general public, and scientific information to professionals. They provide a platform for publishing, disseminating health alerts, and supporting administrative functions." For the purpose of strengthening health systems through eHealth strategies, the World health Organization (WHO) undertook a global survey of eHealth in order to garner baseline data about its current state (mid-2005 through mid-2006). The survey was developed and implemented by the Global Health Observatory for eHealth (GOe) and focused on processes and outcomes of eHealth action lines previously identified by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Key findings and proposed actions are available in this document. The research results showed that Member States are making concrete advances in foundational policies and strategies at the national level except in the area of eHealth governance mechanisms. Implementation of enabling actions and strategies is low compared to the foundation actions that were reviewed. Areas in need of attention are the following: multilingualism, citizen protection, equity, and standardisation and interoperability. eJournal services for health professionals is widespread, as is health information online for the general public. Online teaching is expected to expand.

Recommended actions include:

• Member States are urged to draw up long-term strategic plans at the national level for developing and implementing eHealth services, including forming governing bodies to guide on matters of security, interoperability, cultural and linguistic issues, infrastructure, funding, monitoring, and evaluation. GOe will develop tools and a best practices manual, and WHO will draw up public-private partnership guidelines.
• A WHO committee will establish legal and ethical guidelines on citizen protection and equity, while it recommends that Member States work on equitable, affordable access. The GOe will coordinate strategies on international production and sharing of multilingual digital health information. WHO will draft guidelines for training health professionals and students for ICT use.
• WHO will promote adoption of quality and reliability standards for digital content, and urge Member States to evaluate the benefits of creating open information archives for health sciences as an approach to disseminating national research literature. Member States are urged to consider eLearning methods for training where there is an increasing need for health professionals.

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WHO Executive Summary online, accessed April 14 2009.