Brisbane 2004 - Major outcome of the meeting

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A one-year step-wise strategy for engagement is planned, for U21 to contribute systematically to the global e-health area. The first phase of this initiative will involve recruitment of a network of university and discipline contacts to progress each element of the initiative, namely the "telehealth for underserved populations" pilot study, and a leadership role for U21 Health Sciences in the areas of e-health policy formulation and professional portability.

A major focus for 2004/2005 will be a pilot study to establish a programme of support by U21 universities to targeted underserved communities by "adopting" a hospital/health facility and utilizing existing U21 expertise, programmes and networks. Potential collaborations include the Swinfen Charitable Trust's telehealth network and The University of British Columbia's Inter-professional Rural Placement Project. A detailed outline of the pilot study will be prepared and a formative evaluation undertaken to determine best-practice processes and guidelines.

In addition, U21 Health Sciences has endorsed the e-health steering committee to seek support from the U21 Managers to conduct an e-health policy workshop/forum in 2005, together with the generation of proceedings from it, to promote the establishment of an e-health policy thread as one of the three-prongs of its global health strategy.