Publications
HST provides free electronic access to over 500 health systems research related reports, publications and papers. Close to 300 of these are publications that have been commissioned and funded by the Trust. Topics include among others district systems development, drug supply management, human resource development, informatics, legislation, finance, environmental health, mental health, lessons learnt, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases / HIV/AIDS. The main publication of the HST is the annual South African Health Review. From 2005 all HST publications will be available in low resolution only. To explore the range of publications HST offers use the Advanced search to search using a variety of criteria.

There is a clear thread through all aspects of the results that the HealthLink project has met its basic objectives and impacted positively on many aspects of communication in health in South Africa. HealthLink has made use of technology appropriate to the local situation and has made progress in addressing the inequity of access to communication and information. The most common criticism of the project is that it could not do more probably far more a reflection of the vast needs, and the constraints of time and resources, than a failing.

Most importantly, we believe that the results of this evaluation show that HealthLink has changed thinking from the level of the health worker to that of national decision makers, and built capacity at all levels to harness the potential of communication technology to improve health care delivery, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas.

HealthLink plans to implement the lessons learned and experience gained to further health systems development in the context of other initiatives within the Health Systems Trust. In addition, HealthLink will continue to seek opportunities to demonstrate the potential of appropriate information technology to improve health care.

Note: This evaluation only covers the project work done by HealthLink, and does not attempt to quantify or assess the contribution that HealthLink has made to the overall functioning of the Health Systems Trust in terms of the office network infrastructure, access to the Internet, support and capacity development, and related functions. We believe however that the HealthLink project has substantially added to the profile and output of the whole organisation. Correspondingly, the HealthLink project would not have achieved as much without the input received by virtue of operating within the Health Systems Trust.