Reviews of ministry of health (MOH) and national health sector reports on designated infrastructure, staff, and procedural guidelines for health statistics analysis and reporting.  A number of tools have been developed for assessing information systems including: the HIS indicators in the WHO HSS Handbook and the HISPIX (WHO, 2010); the self-assessment indicators in the WHO Health Metrics Network (HMN) toolkit (WHO, 2007); the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2003) statistical standards, guidelines and best practices on development indicators; and the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (UN, 1994), which is often used as a general framework to assess the performance of national statistics offices.

Data Source(s):

National MOH and health sector reports

Purpose:

This indicator reflects the national capacity for synthesis, analysis and validation of health data, specifically RH data, and can be used to establish a baseline and to monitor progress. A well-functioning national health information system (HIS) that provides sound and reliable information is the foundation of decision-making across all aspects of the health system.  The HIS collects data from health and other relevant sectors, analyses the data, ensures overall quality, relevance and timeliness, and converts the data into information for decision-making and planning. Quality health statistics analysis and reporting are essential for all aspects of HSS, from health system policy development and implementation, governance and regulation, health research, human resources development, health education and training, to service delivery and financing.  Few developing countries have sufficiently strong and effective health information systems to meet all the varied needs for health information. New technologies can contribute to improving data generation, compilation and information exchange, however, these technologies also require detailed quality standards to be of optimal value. Strengthening national HIS capacity and RH health data quality and utilization are fundamental to the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals: #4 reduce child mortality; #5 improve maternal health; and # 6 combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Issue(s):

The existence of a mechanism for RH data analysis does not necessarily mean that the body charged with the task is operating effectively and efficiently. In many countries, health sector reform and decentralization have brought about shifts in functions between the central, district and local levels that have created new information needs with changing requirements for data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. Moreover, health sector reforms can increase the need for standardization and quality information.

References:

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2003, Quality dimensions, core values for OECD statistics and procedures for planning and evaluating statistical activities. Paris: OECD. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/38/21687665.pdf (accessed 1 April 2010).