Vicki Bennett Technical Director Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub

1. Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub Vicki Bennett Technical Director Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub School of Population Health University of Queensland Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009

2. Strengthening Health Systems Through Evidence • In 2008, AusAID established 4 Knowledge Hubs for health in leading Australian institutions, addressing different dimensions of the health system: • Health Information Systems @ UQ • Health Policy and Finance @ Nossal Institute • Human Resources for Health @ UNSW • Women and Children’s Health: • The Menzies School of Health Research • The Burnet Institute • The Centre for International Child Health • Joint Steering Committee plus individual Technical Advisory Groups • Annual work plans approved by AusAID Health Information Systems Knowledge Hub 2009

3. Goal of the Knowledge Hubs • To contribute to the quality and effectiveness of Australia’s engagement in the health sector in the Asia Pacific region through expanded expertise and an expanded knowledge base that is of practical value and used by stakeholders in development. • The aim is to: • increase the critical, conceptual and strategic analysis of key health system issues • expand convening powers and engagement between all the key stakeholders in development in the Asia-Pacific region • effectively disseminate relevant and useful knowledge • expand the capacity of Australian and regional institutions and professionals

4. Defining Health Information Systems Health Metrics Network (HMN) Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systemshttp://www.who.int/healthmetrics/en/

5. Mapping of HIS in Pacific Island Countries • A mapping of the health information systems in: • Vanuatu • Solomon Islands • Fiji • Tonga • Nauru • Cook Islands • Wallis and Futuna • Using the HMN Framework • Identify areas for further analysis and research that are common across countries

6. Vanuatu Mapping – what are we learning? • The reporting burden from ‘vertical’ programs is crippling at the ground level if we don’t think strategically about what it is we REALLY NEED to know to manage programs. • 600 data items on 8 pages reported every month! • This is either: • not being done leading to incomplete data collections, or • the time taken to complete these forms is at the expense of patient care.

8. Vanuatu Mapping – what are we learning? • Routine, monthly collection from every centre may not be the best way to get the answers we need for program M & E. How frequently do we really need to collect this based on use? • Find natural synergies for data transmission, eg: • Attach data reporting to stores ordering on a 2 monthly cycle. • Help local staff to not only use data but to look at it critically...Ask the questions • “Can this be true?” • “Does this make sense?”

9. Vanuatu – HIS Mapping

11. Critical Review of HIS Developments in the Asia Pacific • HIS is a neglected area of research • Comprehensive critical assessment of previous HIS developments and their outcomes • Define what ‘success’ in HIS development looks like, i.e. what is the minimum level of data and systems for effective health systems • Find out what has been done, by whom, and where? • Learn from successes and failures and understand the ingredients for each - what worked, what didn’t and why?

12. Field-testing guidelines for assessing Vital Registration Systems • Tool developed in 2008 for assessing the quality and functioning of country Vital Registration (VR) systems • In-depth assessment of the VR system used to refine the tool and provide evidence about the best methods for its use • HIS Hub field testing the tool in Sri Lanka and Philippines, in collaboration with WHO

13. Site tour of Registrar Offices in Philippines Official Launch of VR Assessment in Sri Lanka

14. Building Networks Regionally- Pacific Health Information Network • Support, knowledge transfer and training for those working as health information professionals in the Pacific • Meeting and training was held in Nadi - September 2009

15. Pacific HIS Development Forum –2-3 November in Brisbane • Based on the HMN Framework, partners from the Pacific will be invited to present on HIS issues, challenges and activities in their own countries or regionally • Discussion and presentations will be synthesised and published with Pacific co-authors to increase the knowledge-base for HIS in the Pacific • Open invitation – see the HIS Knowledge Hub website for more information

16. Regional and Domestic Training Initiatives • Skills of both Australians and partner countries for HIS development will be built initially through: • Scholarship for an Australian Masters student • Senior Fellow residencies of 1-2 semesters at SPH, UQ from partner countries • Development of HIS curriculum • Exploration of the issues in relation to HIS training/curriculum in the Asia Pacific region

17. Collection alone is useless!

18. It is not good enough to just improve the collection of data - Senior managers and decision makers must be convinced that they cannot make decisions without information