HST Programme Profile

Health Situations and Trend Assessment unit will ensure that the Evidence-based information is readily available for decision-makers to frame and implement health and health-related policies and practices. This unit will ensure adequate capacity at country level to improve availability and quality and use of health information for improved efficiency and effectiveness of health programmes.

General Objective

To improve the availability, quality and use of health information for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of health programmes of Member countries.

Specific Objectives

     To validate, analyze and disseminate information on regional health situation and trends;

     To enhance national capacity and capability in health planning and management by strengthening country Health Information systems (HIS); and

     To make sound evidence available for use in developing efficient and effective health policies;

Strategies

The strategies comprise 10 strategic directions as follows:

     Policy development, regulation and legislation on HIS-related issues;

     System analysis (health information system design/set-up and maintenance);

     Promotion of data quality;

     Appropriate application of information and communication technology (ICT);

     Enhancement of mechanisms for effective communication, cooperation and coordination;

     Development and allocation of HIS resources (human, physical, financial);

     Strengthening data-sharing, analysis and utilization, at all levels;

     Strengthening data collection and utilization in decentralized systems;

     Effective marketing of HIS products; and

     Strengthening linkages between the Health Information System and the Health Research System.

More on Regional Strategy…

Medium-term outputs

     Member countries are supported strengthening their health information systems (including district level) through institutionalizing better information strategies in alignment with 10 point Regional Strategies of HIS development;

     Member countries are supported to strengthening hospital information systems, adopting data standards, implementation of ICD-10 through training and improving record keeping practices;

     Updation of regional publications on health situation of SEAR member countries and dissemination of latest health information available;

     Extending Technical support to Member countries to prepare MDG progress reports with updated data based on new monitoring framework;

     Technical assistance to develop country capacities in strengthening HIS, such as Vital Registration Systems, health behaviour surveys and information systems for chronic diseases;

     Establishment of Regional Health Observatory to further facilitate reporting consistent data regionally as well as provide technical support for Asia Pacific Observatory;

     On request from Member Countries, support e-health applications that have the potential to provide wider access to better quality care through appropriate use of technology and advise progressive national policies in this context (including Geographical Information System (GIS) for decision making and Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) for Facilitating Mapping).