Kathmandu, November 29:

The government is all set to begin Health Sector Information System, a district-level health sector information bank, from January.

Once the system comes into effect, all the data concerning health sector will be collected in the concerned District Public Health Offices (DPHO), serving the needs of district health information bank. The data will be collected from the government and private hospitals, health posts, clinics and health services run by NGOs and INGOs.

A comprehensive database concerning health sector and containing aspects such as preventive awareness programmes, measures taken, logistics, financial and curative details, notifiable diseases, disease surveillance, number and variety of diseases traced and treated, including their supporting details, will be assembled from all health service providers in the district. An IT-based information bank will be set up. The information thus collected could be retrieved by government offices and the ministry as per the need.

Anil Thapa, chief at the Health Management Information System Section, Department of Health Services, said, although the government gathered information on health sectors even in the past as well, it was non-comprehensive, incomplete and contradictory. “This initiative is a step towards single-door information system that will be complete and updated frequently.”

The government is planning to launch the programme for the first time in Lalitpur, Rupandehi and Parsa from January. “Examining the progress, the government will expand the project to other districts next year,” Thapa added.

This system will strengthen coordination between health institutions and smooth running of health related programmes, proper and authentic statistics and quality service, he said.

The HSIS programme is being initiated in Lalitpur beginning January. Rishi Prasad Lamichane, senior public health administrator of the DPHO Lalitpur, said the data would be collected from more than 300 health institutions in the districts.

These include Patan Hospital, Patan Mental hospital, Global Hospital, Star Hospital, B and B Hospital, Laligurans Hospital, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic hospital in Lalitpur. “Big institutions would submit the details each month and some on quarterly basis,” he added. “It will help upgrade the health sector situation, avoid duplication and provide proper information on the diseases and guidelines for future.”