Thanks to Ken Harvey for the following information. A pity that WHO does not recognise the role of open source software in establishing suitable and sustainable health information systems in low and middle income countries.
Tim C Ken Harvey wrote: > The latest issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO) > Volume 83, Number 8, August 2005, 561-640 > Website at http://www.who.int/bulletin/en/ > > Summaries of a selection of articles from this month's issue: > > This month's special theme: Health Information Systems > <http://www.who.int/bulletin/current/editorials/en/index.html> > > In the first editorial, Sally Stansfield welcomes growing recognition of > the need for more investment in health information systems. Such > systems may seem expensive for developing countries, but the costs are > offset by improved efficiencies. In another editorial, Kimberlyn M. > McGrail & Charlyn Black argue that developing countries starting to set > up health information systems can learn from the mistakes of wealthier > countries. Middle-to-low-income countries should incorporate mechanisms > to ensure that health data can be easily accessed by those who need > them. Finally, Tony Williams argues that poor countries should shift to > policy-making that is based on evidence by developing a health > information system that adapts the existing data situation. > > Why countries need health information systems > <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/news.pdf> > > In the News, Haroon Ashraf writes that developing countries are under > pressure to build and reinforce their health information systems to > fulfil donor requirements. In the Bulletin interview, Ties Boerma, > Director of WHO Department of Measurement and Health Information > Systems, discusses the development of health information systems over > the past few decades and why countries need these more than ever today. > > Health data as integral system > <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/578.pdf> > > In the leading policy and practice paper, Carla AbouZahr & Ties Boerma > introduce the theme issue on health information systems and argue that > health information should be treated as an integral system. This is > difficult when donors determine data priorities based on their own needs > and not those of the country as a whole. A further obstacle to a > well-functioning health information system is cost, but the authors > conclude that investment in such a system can lead to more efficient > health-care services and save money in the long term. > > Data for poverty reduction and Equity challenges > > Three papers discuss the role of data in poverty reduction and > addressing inequities in health. Sarah B. Macfarlane argues > <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/590.pdf> ) that efforts to > strengthen health information systems in low- and middle-income > countries should forge links with data systems in other sectors. Lexi > Bambas Nolen et al. <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/597.pdf> > review core information requirements for health information systems in > seeking to address these inequities and they propose short- and > longer-term strategies for strengthening health information systems as a > tool to analyse inequities in health. Finally, Vanessa Rommelmann et al. > (pp. 569-577 <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/569.pdf> > describe how they examined nine systems that provide a range of health > and other information in the United Republic of Tanzania. > > Monitoring vaccine safety in Viet Nam > <http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/604.pdf> > Health information systems to monitor vaccine safety are used in > industrialized countries to detect adverse events related to > vaccinations. Such systems are often absent in developing countries and > are urgently needed. In his article, Lorenz von Seidlein describes a > study in which he used a large linked database to monitor > vaccine-related adverse events in Khanh Hoa province, Viet Nam. The > study confirmed the safety of a measles vaccination campaign and showed > that it is feasible to establish health information systems to provide > reliable data in a developing country at low cost. > ---- > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12h7kstuj/M=362329.6886308.7839368.1510227/D=groups/S=1707281942:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123173504/A=2894321/R=0/SIG=11dvsfulr/*http://youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=1992 ">Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/openhealth/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
