Collaborative networks leverage HIS support in Asia and the Pacific
The Western Pacific Regional Office is actively supporting two collaborative communities of practice among HIS, eHealth and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) professionals in the region. The Pacific Health Information Network (PHIN) and the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) are creating more value from HIS, eHealth, and CRVS investments by countries and development partners; facilitating peer-to-peer learning, sharing and technical assistance; fostering more strategic reuse of what is working well in countries, promoting the use of standards and frameworks; and building trust for better collaboration and coordination within and across countries. The PHIN and AeHIN are improving the quality and use of health information to achieve better health outcomes.
Finalisation of the PHIN regional HIS implementation plan coincides with addressing the 2011 declared priority of Pacific Health Ministers to improve HIS and CRVS. With support from the University of Queensland HIS Knowledge HUB, PHIN members contributed to the special HIS publication of the Pacific Health Dialog in 2012, which explores approaches for the six action points of regional HIS plan and the call for health information to address needs in non communicable diseases and provide "accurate and relevant maternal and child health indicators".
The Asia-Pacific HIS Leadership Forum held in Manila, Philippines in 2011, led to the creation of AeHIN organised by 'champions' from 7 countries in South and South-East Asia to improve cross-country networking and alliance building around common issues and solutions in HIS, eHealth and CRVS. Launched in a regional workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, 19 countries in South and Southeast Asia and 14 development partners came together to expand the AeHIN and address regional approaches around building capacity, sharing technical resources and experience, using standards and promoting interoperability across systems, and applying better country ownership and leadership techniques to enhance HIS, eHealth, and CRVS improvements.
