E-Health standardization challenges in emerging economies: The case of Mexico

It is particularly relevant the role of standardization in a complex and highly converging context. The pace of technology growth and the lack of comprehensive technology adoption programs and a sound regulatory environment present important challenges to take full advantage of the new world scenario of digitalization and global convergence. On the one hand, national ICT regulatory administrations of emerging economies are committed to consolidate and strengthen their standardization processes and policies. On the other hand, the national health institutions acknowledge the need of standards that include information technology elements in the medical practices. This paper delineates the basic elements for the development of a comprehensive framework for e-Health standardization in emerging economies taking into account the multidimensional and complex nature of the standardization process and the importance of the interactions among all the actors involved. Our proposal emerges from the establishment of a National Program for e-Health in Mexico as suggested by both WHO and ITU.