Federal Health Minister for National Health Services Regulations & Coordination Amer Mehmood Kiani, presided over a high level Health & Population Think Tank (HPTT) meeting today. The Meeting was attended by the Federal Health Secretary Capt (Rtd.) Zahid Saeed, the Director General Health Dr Assad Hafeez, all provincial and area health information systems relevant personnel, WHO, UNICEF, NADRA and the private sector health care representatives among other academics and international subject experts through recorded messages. The Federal Minister stressed to establish integrated national level health information system. He emphasized the need to have quality information, only then proper plans can be made and executed. He reiterated the resolve of the government to address and uplift the health of Pakistanis and assured that resources will be made available to improve the efficiency of the Health Information Systems of Pakistan The discussions highlighted the key challenges faced by the Health Information Systems of Pakistan. Which are as follows; • Overlapping and duplicating information as multiple information systems are operational • Poor data quality • Lack of analytical capacity at all levels to use facility and community-based information to develop responsive and appropriate service delivery strategies and community-based interventions • Lack of regulatory authority to ensure standardized data systems across provinces • Lack of centralized data repository • Private sector is not captured in the existing systems The discussions picked up potential questions like the need to have an integrated national level health information system to address the fragmented health information sources. And what innovations should be introduced for inclusive recording and reporting from public and private health sector to improve timeliness, accuracy and quality of data. Or what will be the strategy and steps needed to move towards a One Health Survey to help inform the Heath Information Systems and integrate SDGs indicators.
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