Strict deadlines set up by the Presidency earlier this year have kicked some government departments into shape - but it's still not clear how current ICT programmes will be affected.
Departments which have been tasked with the biggest ICT programmes in government, report that they have met deadlines and will meet future deadlines.
Following the Medium-Term Strategy Framework, which was unveiled by minister in the presidency, Trevor Manuel, earlier this year, departments report that their work is on track.
The programme highlights what action government will take to realise goals set out in the framework. The framework identified the usage of ICT, and science and technological innovation and development as key in its goals to improve and sustain economic growth. Vital initiatives have been allocated to key departments and strict deadlines will be monitored.
The Department of Health (DOH), headed by Aaron Motsoaledi, says it has so far met all deadlines. The first deadline for the DOH was to perform an audit of health ICT at all levels in the national health system in the public sector. The report and the recommendations were presented to the National Health Council in October - as scheduled.
The DOH is drafting a national ICT strategy for health, and this will be produced and presented to the National Health Council, due at the end of November. The final national ICT strategy will be presented to the council in March and is expected to be adopted at the same time.
The department has drawn up a revitalisation policy, and it is expected to finalise and include the health technology plan and strategy once the ICT strategy is complete.
While the department has already embarked on a process of developing a national electronic health record for all patients in public hospitals, implementation plans might have to be amended to fall in line with its ICT strategy.
The draft policy will be presented to the NHC and the final plan would be adopted by the NHC and incorporated into provincial health plans by March 2010.
Still to come
The Department of Communications (DOC) is expected to finalise and implement the local and digital content development strategy by December. The digital terrestrial television standard is expected to be gazetted by March 2010. The set-top box (STB) manufacturing strategy, including the ownership support scheme, is to be completed by March 2010. The Digital Dzonga STB conformance scheme will be in place and STB manufacturing will commence by March 2010, the schedule states.
The DOC will also develop a broadband policy and cost-effective funding model for the roll-out of high-speed broadband infrastructure. The final national broadband policy is expected in March 2010.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been tasked with ensuring that institutions, which support technology development, are fully operational by November 2010. While the Technology Innovation Agency is already operational, the department still has to set up National Intellectual Property Management Offices around the country.
By December, the department will have to present approved business plans for the establishment of centres of competence and technology platforms in key sectors, such as alternative energy, information security and medical devices. The DST would also have to develop and implement a commercialisation strategy in support of the local electric vehicle industry. The implementation of this strategy has been set for December.
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