Victoria to stop HealthSmart funds

By Lilia Guan
 
The Victorian Minister for Health and Ageing’s office has confirmed with Government News that it will no longer fund the previous government’s HealthSmart program.

HealthSmart was a state initiative to implement a strategy to modernise and replace ICT systems throughout the Victorian public healthcare sector, at the cost of about $360 million.

The ICT improvements were to provide healthcare agencies with the tools required to meet the growing healthcare demands expected in the future.
 
However a spokesperson from the minister’s office told Government News the total project budget under Labor cost about $323.4M.
 
The Ombudsman has found that the project would require an additional $243 million to complete.
 
“The former Government failed to implement an adequate approach to ICT for Victorian hospitals with costs blowing out and completion years behind schedule,” the spokesperson said.
 
“The Baillieu Government has been forced to go back to the drawing board.”
 
According to the spokesperson the 2012/13 State Budget saw the establishment of a $100 million Victorian Innovation, e-health and communications technology fund.
 
The initiative will support Victorian Public Health Services with information communication technology projects, including system and software upgrades and installations.
 
Government News takes an indepth look at HealthSmart and other state e-Health initiatives in the June/July edition of the magazine.

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