1. FourthGlobal SymposiumonHealthSystems Research
Strengthening RHIS through Regionalizing Networks: Asia
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Prof. Sanjay Zodpey, MD, PhD
Vice President, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
Director – Indian Institute of Public Health, Delhi

2. Presentation outline
• Rationale
• AeHIN RHIS focus group
• Mission/Vision
• Objectives
• Management
• Future steps

3. 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/

4. 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/

5. • 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

6. 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.”

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. …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

12. 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:

13. 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:

14. AeHINRHISFocus Group: Governanceand 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Thanks