English: Keep Calm and Carry On UK government poster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This article from the Guardian is well worth a read. Check it out!

via Open data could save the NHS hundreds of millions, says top UK scientist | Media Network | The Guardian.

On the surface, open data and open government are a good thing. But when there’s an incremental cost, it must be measured at the margin, especially in times of bacon-slicer austerity. Activity-based-costing theory (ABC) has been around for some years – it favors eliminating non-value adding costs. For sure, there are still massive non-value adding costs in the NHS and across the UK government.

On balance, I support open data but it must become part of an effective strategy for UK public healthcare.

Let me ask an open question:

Surely there should be a UK public policy yardstick restricting 70% of the public sector’s expenditure to value-adding activities, like front-line services?

Thoughts?

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