Keywords
Abstract
The efficiency of the healthcare system has been largely affected by the increasing adoption of information and communication technology (ICT), particularly in the developing world. In Sri Lanka, a few mHealth initiatives have been implemented to improve the management of data, administrative efficiency, and service delivery, particularly within government hospitals. However, very little empirical information is available about the significance of ICT adoption, staff ICT competence, and the efficiency of the healthcare system. The relationship between ICT adoption, staff ICT competence, and healthcare system efficiency is explored for the chosen public hospitals within the Ampara district, specifically within the Eastern province of Sri Lanka.A higher degree of knowledge, skills, and abilities among healthcare staff could result in improved operational performance, based on the results, indicating a strong positive correlation between staff ICT competence and healthcare system efficiency. Moreover, it was found that the healthcare system was strongly, positively, and favorably associated with ICT adoption, particularly the adoption of HISs, mHealth, and other electronic applications for healthcare delivery. The higher the adoption of ICTs within hospitals, the higher the degree of gains towards increased administrative process efficiencies, accuracy of records, and service delivery speed.Based on this research, it is clearly established that increasing the efficiencies of public healthcare systems is largely dependent upon staff ICT competence and adoption. It is proposed that higher ICT training for healthcare staff should be given the highest priority by the administration of hospitals, governments, and lawmakers. Such training programs are imperative for advancing the optimal growth of public healthcare institutions such as those found within the Ampara district of Sri Lanka.