KHAN: Nurturing ethical digitalisation with cultural integrity

“By nurturing ethical digitalisation, we can ensure that progress is not only measured in bytes and algorithms but also in the preservation of cultural integrity and the promotion of human values. In doing so, we can build a future where technological advancement coexists harmoniously with timeless traditions, creating a world that is both technologically advanced and culturally enriched,” writes Shaukati Ali Khan, Global Chief Information Officer, at the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Hospitals in Asia, Africa and the United Kingdom. Impact, Quality, Relevance and Access (IQRA) are AKU’s institution’s key principles, and they are manifested in the recently implemented Electronic Health Record (EHR) system across Kenya with a patient portal functions as a portal that allows patients access to their health records at their fingertips, without the need to leave their homes or visit the hospital again for results. It allows them to book clinical appointments, request medical services at home, and access prescriptions when required. The transparency and access this gives patients is a mark of the respect, care and trust that forms the ethical foundation upon which AKU’s technological initiatives are rooted.