6. Lack or Insufficiency of Laws and Regulations Governing the
Provision of E-Health Services
The absence or inadequacy of laws and regulations governing the
provision of e-health services poses a significant barrier to
implementation.
Privacy concerns emerge as a prominent obstacle due to the web-based
nature of many e-health systems, raising apprehensions among doctors and
patients regarding the security of medical records. This concern is
further exacerbated when wireless internet is utilized for transmitting
records to multiple locations. It is imperative to recognize that
e-health applications, particularly those involving the utilization of
big data, cannot be regarded in isolation from organizational
cybersecurity policies49 .
Legal hurdles also impede the adoption of information technology in
healthcare. The lack of clarity in laws pertaining to fraud and abuse,
tax regulations, intellectual property rights, liability and
malpractice, and licensing laws creates an environment of uncertainty
for healthcare providers in implementing information technology
solutions50 . Consequently, certain strategic
plans for e-health applications may prove unfeasible due to inadequate
consideration of the available resources’ quality and scope.
Addressing these legal and regulatory challenges is crucial to foster an
environment conducive to the successful implementation and widespread
adoption of e-health services.