The ministry has launched the beta version of the e-health system at three hospitals The e-health system will be implemented across hospitals in the Kingdom in phases RIYADH: The Ministry of Health is implementing a cutting-edge e-health system at hospitals to improve health care efficiency in the Kingdom and provide patients with standardized e-health records by 2020. The ministry has launched the beta version of the e-health system at three hospitals — Yanbu General Hospital, Al-Bukayriyah General Hospital and Al-Kharj Maternity and Children’s Hospital — to compare them according to specific criteria set by the ministry. The e-health system will be implemented across hospitals in the Kingdom in phases, the ministry said, adding that it will be applied across all medical departments including reception, emergency, outpatient clinics and inpatient wards. “The e-health system seeks to achieve the health ministry’s strategy adopted as part of the National Transformation Program (NTP 2020), as well as being one of the programs to realize Vision 2030 in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care sector through information technology and digital transformation,” the ministry said. Setting a goal of quality health care for all, the Vision 2030 program aims for better use of the capacity of hospitals and health care centers, and to enhance the quality of preventive and therapeutic health care services. According to the ministry, the implementation of an integrated e-health system will contribute to the easy saving and accessing of data, the reduction of medical errors and ensuring that appropriate health services are provided to patients by benefiting from the right resources and the reduction of waste. The ministry, which launched an anti-smoking drive at the beginning of Ramadan last year, this year launched a smartphone app as part of its anti-smoking drive ahead of the holy month. The mobile application is designed to be used for monitoring the ministry’s anti-smoking regulations and using the app any witness can inform the authorities about violations such as smoking in public places and the selling tobacco to those under 18 years of age.