Health Information Systems (HIS)

Improving Health Information to Identify Problems and Measure Success

Improving health management information systems (HIS) is a critical component of Health Systems 20/20’s health system strengthening activities worldwide.

The Health Systems 20/20 project, led by Abt Associates, works with countries to carry out surveys that provide critical information for health policy making and program planning. For example, in 2007, Health Systems 20/20 conducted a comprehensive HIV and AIDS service provision assessment in Côte d'Ivoire. Preliminary findings were used to inform the development of the national health sector development plan.

National Health Accounts (NHA) is a tool being used today in more than 50 low- and middle-income countries as a framework for measuring total public and private national health expenditures. NHA methodology tracks the flow of funds through the health sector, from their sources, through financial institutions, to providers and functions. Health Systems 20/20 provides NHA technical assistance in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Yemen.

Health Systems 20/20 staff provide assistance to countries to operationalize national monitoring and evaluation frameworks and collaborate with implementing partners to improve the reliability, quality, and availability of health data. Health Systems 20/20 also works with ministries of health (MOH) to build and improve routine and patient level HIS. In Zambia, the project, in collaboration with the MOH, implemented the ARTIS (anti-retroviral therapy information system). ARTIS is a highly adaptable (either paper-based or electronic) user-friendly system that assists clinic-level staff to provide high-quality care to persons living with HIV, submit timely reports to local and national authorities, and undertake facility-level program evaluation (i.e., cohort analyses).

Through the Health Systems 20/20 project, geographic information system-enabled HIS and mapping tools have been developed to support the Yemen Ministry of Public Health and Population, Government Health Office, and District Health Offices to improve health care efficiency, equity, and accessibility throughout Yemen. The project team coordinates with the World Bank, World Health Organization, GTZ, European Commission, and other donors to strengthen the Yemen HIS in support of the Yemen decentralized health care strategy. Intensive assistance also has been provided to five USAID-targeted, underserved governments.