Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research

Strengthening RHIS through Regionalizing Networks: Asia -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prof. Sanjay Zodpey, MD, PhD

Vice President, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi

Director – Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi

Presentation outline

• Rationale

• AeHIN RHIS focus group • Mission/Vision • Objectives • Management

• Future steps

Rationale • “Well-functioning health information system” is a fundamental “health system

building block”1

1. The WHO Health Systems Framework [Internet]. WPRO. [cited 2016 Jan 22]. Available from: http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/health_systems_framework/en/

Rationale

• While decision-makers are hard pressed for health information, RHIS in many countries remain “weak”:

• Actionable routine health data are not easily available

• Even when routine health data are available, its completeness, reliability,

and validity are debatable

• Routine data are poorly used for decision making at all levels of health

system

1. The WHO Health Systems Framework [Internet]. WPRO. [cited 2016 Jan 22]. Available from: http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/health_systems_framework/en/

• Global efforts: RHIS strengthening through Health Data Collaborative

• Opportunities to facilitate sharing of RHIS best practices/lessons learned, standards and tools between Asian countries

Rationale

Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN)

• AeHIN promotes “better use of information communication technology (ICT) to achieve better health through peer-to-peer assistance and knowledge sharing and learning through a regional approach for greater country-level impacts across South and Southeast Asia.”

Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN)

• The draft Strategic Plan (2012-2017) includes “Build capacity for eHealth, Health Information Systems, and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in the countries.”

• Wide coverage and active participation by Asian countries

• Several countries undertook RHIS reforms in past decade: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, etc.

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group

• Undertook efforts in collaboration with WHO SEARO and MEASURE Evaluation to strengthen RHIS through a regional network

• Explored interest of AeHIN members in regionalizing RHIS through AeHIN among its members/ countries in Oct 2015 during the AeHIN General Management meeting in Bali

• Drafted Mission, Vision, Objectives and Management Structure for AeHIN RHIS Focus Group

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group

Resource record

systems

Service record

systems

Institution based HIS

Individual record

systems

Health Facilities

Communities

Stakeholders (All users) • Public and Private • Clients & • Communities

By 2025, AeHIN member countries will have better routine health information for better decisions to achieve better health

As an AeHIN focus group, we will support strengthening the RHIS in the public and private sectors to produce good quality information for effective and efficient use to improve health service delivery and contribute towards robust health systems

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group VISION

MISSION

…Support improved data definitions, collection, analysis and management to generate quality information and using this information to strengthen the health care delivery system through improved planning and management in AeHIN countries

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group Goal

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group

Support countries to monitor progress towards SDG 3 through RHIS strengthening

Advocate for using information generated through RHIS for decision making by all users and at all levels of the health system

Capacity building of AeHIN countries in RHIS through training workshops, webinars, research, system support and follow-up

Objectives: The RHIS Focus Group will:

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group

Share and/or develop and/or adapt best practices, standards and tools and lessons learnt

Build and sustain partnerships for RHIS strengthening within and between countries

Make appropriate use of ICT in institution-based RHIS

Objectives: The RHIS Focus Group will:

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group: Governance and Management

• Governance is provided by the AeHIN Working Council

• Management to be provided by RHIS Focus Group Core Team

• The RHIS Focus Group Core Team will be “country-driven” and include:

• Representatives of various AeHIN member countries, ideally familiar with HIS design and implementation

• Other regional and global RHIS champions drawn from the Focus Group membership

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group – Future steps

• First in-person Core Team meeting at the Myanmar GM meeting in March 2017

• Refining regional RHIS database prepared by PHFI

• Set up RHIS listserv as a platform for communication and collaboration

AeHIN RHIS Focus Group – Future steps (2) • Encourage Knowledge Exchange through discussion forum/ webinar

series

• Country initiatives and challenges they face, and the country-to-country support to address those challenges

• Consensus building on RHIS standards and strategies and on way forward

• Participate in contextualization of RHIS training curriculum and materials

Thanks