About Heron Technology

Heron provides application software modules, and strategies, to the health sector, and adheres to the following concepts:

Health is a basic human right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United Nations, Article 25
Good health is an essential . . . . . . . for equitable development . . . . . . . Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
Chair, WHO macroeconomic commission (Jan 2001)
Country health must rely on effective IT systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Alleyne
PAHO, Director (July 1999)
Better Surveillance . . . . . . . strong global linkages . . . . . . . Dr. Gro Brundtland
WHO, Executive Director (July 2003 - SARS)

The above concepts are firmly kept in mind in the development and delivery of the company's IT solutions. Extensive experience has been gained after more than a decade of working with developing countries in health IT. In addition, the company had an earlier period exceeding a decade of software development and experience in the health sector of Canada. Heron has developed its health IT solutions, and strategies based on this collective market knowledge. These solutions and strategies enable developing countries to now move ahead in the better management of their all important national health sector through the use of Information Technology.

Some of the characteristics that are intrinsic to the Heron COMPASS Patient Administration System (PAS) are:

Affordable

Functional

Field-proven

Entry-point

Guaranteed

Modular

Interoperable

Scaleable

Sustainable

The Heron COMPASS PAS can emerge to be the health IT 'Standard' for many developing countries, permitting these countries to realize the clarion call of the Caribbean Commission on Health & Development Report, and Heron's comments.

"The Health of the Nation is the Wealth of the Nation" (July 2005)

Human Rights

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights United Nations, Article 25

Equitable Development

Geneva - June 17, 2002. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland welcomed a landmark report on the links between macroeconomics and health. The report is the result of a two-year effort by the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, a group of 18 leading economists and health experts. This report is a turning point," said Dr Brundtland as she received the report from Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, the Harvard economist who chaired the Commission.

The Commission argues that "proper investment in a country's human resources is a powerful engine for economic growth. Quite simply, good health is an essential prerequisite for equitable development and fair globalization."

Efficient and Effective IT Systems

"I have stressed repeatedly, here in the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), that information is a critical resource for our work. Our technical cooperation must be based on good information about those areas in which we will cooperate with our Member States."

"Competent management of the services requires that there be efficient and effective information systems."

Dr. George A. O. Alleyne
Director
Pan American Health Organization
Setting Up Healthcare Services Pan American Health Organization
Information Systems World Health Organization, JULY 1999

Better Surveillance . . .Global Linkages

Preparing for the next outbreak requires restoring and strengthening the public health infrastructure. More epidemiologists and other public health specialists are needed. Better surveillance and response systems must be established which include strong national, regional and global linkages in reporting. And governments need to invest more in hospital infection control. "SARS is teaching us many lessons," said Dr Brundtland. "Now we must translate those lessons into action. We may have very little time, and we must use it wisely."