CHAPTER V Health Information

Updates on new legislation (1)  Decision No.1605/2010/QĐ-TTg approving the National Program for Application of information technology in day- to-day operations of state institutions in the period.  Notice No 39/2010/TB-VPCP approving the evaluation system on patient's satisfaction of hospital services at all levels. To develop a mechanism for evaluation and dissemination of evaluation results for hospitals to obtain feedback information in an objective and scientific manner from which appropriate measures for improving health care service quality will be made.

Updates on new legislation (2) Development a plan for health information system development by 2015 with vision to To gradually modernize means and mechanism of the health information system; improving quality of health information (completeness, accuracy, timeliness); To develop appropriate regulation and mechanism to collect health information from private sector. To develop a monitoring system to track on priority issues, including in particular monitoring, reporting, response and forecasting of communicable disease; data on non-communicable diseases, food safety; strengthening management and information sharing in national health targets.

Updates on new legislation (3) To strengthen capacity in data synthesis, process and analysis. To strengthen information dissemination with diverse and appropriate modes to users.  To strengthen information utilization for managerial purposes at each facility, level.  To use information for health policy-making and management.

Implementation of proposed tasks Note : Points colored in blue is lack of information for conclusion. Points colored in red is unimplemented tasks.

Application of information technology in management and governance of the state administration at all levels (1) Results and progress National Program for Application of information technology in day- to-day operations of state institutions in the period.(1605/2010/QĐ-TTg). Promoting application and development of information technology in the health sector, (02/2009/CT-BYT). I t clearly states: + All health facilities should be equiped with full-time units with sufficient appropriate personnel; + Spare minimum 1% of all funding sources to spend on application and development of information technology; + Plan for investment in infrastructure of information technology; Difficulties and barriers Although the Directive is in place, the draft Strategy for people's health care and protection for the period denotes that “application of information technology to strengthening quality, fulliness in administrative system and health statistics seems ineffective”.

Application of information technology in management and governance of the state administration at all levels (2) Results and progress + Accelerate development of health database stores to provide information for management and scientific research; + Hospitals implement hospital inventory softwares, and other application softwares to facilitate management, operation, manipulation, collection, process, storage and exchange of information within the sector. + Central health facilities, provincial health departments, medical universities and schools should have Websites on Internet. Difficulties and barriers

Develop a plan for health information system development by 2015 with vision to Results and progress The draft plan for health information system development has been completed and is about to submit to the Health Minister; The Ministry of Health has established a Steering Committee for heath information; The Steering Committee has met and discussed the plan for health information system development; The the Plan is under finalization by the Planning and Finance Department. Difficulties and barriers There is no mechanism for information collaboration and sharing within the health sector and with other sectors. New health indicators and registers system will be developed in 2012.

Complete the system of indicators, registers and reporting forms. Results and progress The project on synchronization of health indicators is under development: Outlines for the reform of health indicators sysem have been drafted. Prepration for reporting regulations for the private sector is being made. Difficulties and barriers

Develop a monitoring system of priority issues Results and progress Conducted a situation analysis of information system Soon to undertake a situation analysis of information work: infrastructure, human resource and demand for training, health indicators. In the process of development of a list of specific surveys in response to management needs and re- examination of routine statistics. A study in mortality and burden of diseases has been conducted and disseminated with important recommendations to strengthen health information system. Difficulties and barriers Quality of statistics has not yet been evaluated by 6 criteria (appropriateness, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, interpretability, closeness). There is no notification system for non- communicable diseases There is no strengthened activity in death registration in community. No proposal to call for the 2nd National Health Survey. There is no effective mechanism to collect and use information about patient's satisfaction over hospital services.

Strengthen information dissemination with diverse and appropriate modes to users. Results and progress Difficulties and barriers Policy on information dissemination and sharing has not yet been prepared clearly and specifically. Statistics are, sometimes, too slow to be published thus limiting use of information. Unable to strengthen data analysis and use at large scale. Health statistical yearbook has not yet uploaded to Internet, publication of the yearbook is slower than expectation.

Supplementation of priority issues Ensure concentrated management at one focal point with clear assignment in data collection and sharing. Issue statutory documents that regulate personnel organization, functions and tasks for statistical staff from central, provincial to district and communal level to meet up health information needs. The MoH's Decision on functions and tasks of relevant Departments/Administrations that are unable to address fragmentation and lack of cooperation on health information sphere within health care units of the MoH. There is no statutory document regulating personnel organization, functions and tasks and budget for statistical work from central to communal levels.

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