ABSTRACT

Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the health sector faces many challenges due to inadequate infrastructure and limited resources. This study has developed a Decision Support System (DSS) which incorporates Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) to collect information from health workers through their mobiles, software modules to update data from IVRS to Database server automatically and system web site which generates dynamic on line reports from Database server for the perusal of health authorities. The DSS system is developed using Visual Basic 6.0, SQL Server 2000, ASP, Scripting Languages, Windows 2003 SBS and IIS. Services of Toll Free Landline Telephone Connection, 1mbps Broadband Internet Connection, Static IP, GSM Mobile SIM and SMS Package were taken from Telephone Service Provider. The developed DSS system is deployed at Desert Medicine Research Centre (ICMR), Jodhpur, India. The health workers under Block Pokaran, Jaisalmer, are providing the disease information to the developed DSS system through their mobiles. The developed model is very fast, cost effective, automatic and flexible over the existing methods of data collection in health sector.