A systems enquiry within public health care in Malaysia

The overarching reason for studying the Malaysian Public Healthcare system is to investigate service delivery in all its forms. This research study will explore information management approaches applied to strategic, policy and operational requirementsf rom the level of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia (MoHM) through to the level of a State Hospital. In fact, six levels of recursion can be identified and at each level the interaction of information management systems (IMS) with information and communicationt echnologies( ICTs) are explored. The research is underpinned by its primary aim, this is to investigate the current IMS at the MoHM and suggest its advantages and limitations. To address the aim of the study requires the use of Beer's Viable Systems Model (VSM), here principally used in its diagnostic mode of enquiry. The strength of the VSM is its ability to model multi-recursive systems. Data and information that comprise the research inputs were gathered via questionnaire survey (441 responses, representing a response rate of approximately 71.13%), semi-structured interviews (with five top management officers of the public health system), document analysis, and personal observations. Findings reveal that the MoHM does not have the requisite variety to enable the successful realisation of an effective and efficient IMS. From the VSM diagnostic enquiry, issues raised concerning infrastructure, info-structure, and various aspects that relate to the human elements of the system. It is clear from the findings that the scope of the IMS, as well as its widespread adoption throughout MoHM and beyond, need to be addressed to allow further integration of information-based activities. An information architecture is urgently required to accommodate the technological change suggested. By combining these conclusions service delivery at MoHM will be greatly enhanced.