"The previous system was simply antiquated and needed replacing," said Nancy Tse, CFO at the Hospital Authority. "The old systems were fragmented, increasingly difficult to manage and problematic in getting quality information flow."

The process actually began in 2005 when the Chief Executive at that time decided a high priority had to be placed on upgrading the core non-clinical systems at HA. This in itself was a bold move as medical systems that directly relate to patient care typically receive the greater priority. But with the help of who worked with HA to form a strong business case, the project was approved with funding supported by the government.