Framework and Standards for Country Health Information System

The Health Metrics Network (HMN) was launched in 2005 to help countries and other partners improve global health by strengthening the systems that generate health-related information for evidence-based decision-making. HMN is grateful for funding support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Uk Department for International Development (DFID), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Commission (EC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which also serves as host to HMN.

HMN is the first global health partnership that focuses on two core requirements of health system strengthening in low and low-middle income countries. First, the need to enhance entire health information and statistical systems, rather than focus only upon specific diseases. Second, to concentrate efforts on strengthening country leadership for health information production and use. In order to help meet these requirements and advance global health, it has become clear that there is an urgent need to coordinate and align partners around an agreed-upon “framework” for the development and strengthening of health information systems.

It is therefore intended that by 2011, this Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systems (the “HMN Framework”) will be the universally accepted standard for guiding the collection, reporting and use of health information by all developing countries and global agencies. This will only be achieved by fostering agreement on the goals and coordinated investments now needed by country health information systems.

The HMN Framework will serve two broad purposes. Firstly, at country level, it will focus investment and technical assistance on standardizing health information system development, and serve as a benchmark for baseline system assessments. As part of this, a roadmap is described for strengthening health information systems, and putting in place on going monitoring and evaluation. Second, the HMN Framework will permit access to and better use of improved health information at the country and global levels.

The HMN Framework is not intended to replace existing guidelines that provide detailed information on health information system elements. Instead it will seek to identify appropriate and existing standards and promote them. This dynamic approach is expected to evolve over time as it incorporates new developments, country experiences and partner inputs. This second edition has already been informed by a wealth of input on different aspects of health information systems obtained through consultative meetings and country visits. Its adaptation is intended to be iterative as HMN progresses and country health information systems mature. It is intended that the HMN Framework will be instrumental in forging consensus around the vision, standards and processes required of a health information system.