FRONTESPIZIO - Cooperazione Italiana allo Sviluppo

4. Building the national health management information system (HMIS) in Ethiopia 45Reform of HMIS has already started with simple and achievable objectivesand introducing further changes in a staged and scaleable approach, enhancingcapacity at each stage and ensuring the engagement of all partners in theprocess. A complex set of activities should be implemented in an integratedway, as outlined in the Health Metrics Network (HMN) framework, including:1. Identification of information needs at national and subnational levels;2. Mapping of main producers and users of health information, methodsand products in HMIS, identification of best practices, and assessmentof overlaps, duplications, gaps and inconsistencies;3. Definition of a clear policy, legislative and regulatory framework supportingthe health information system at all levels of the health pyramid;4. Development, through a broad-based consultative process, of a comprehensiveHMIS strategy, including Information and CommunicationTechnology (ICT);5. Preparation of a detailed and costed health information plan, with definedtime framework, allocation of responsibility and accountability;6. Assessment of costs and mobilization of financial resources for health informationat all levels of the system;7. Development of human resources for health information, includingnumbers, training, deployment and motivation of health information officers;8. Identification of minimum data requirements and indicators at differentlevels and the production and dissemination of guidance for the generationof relevant indicators;9. Standardization of recording and reporting formats, procedures, definitions,classifications and coding systems;10. Development of thematic glossaries and data dictionaries;11. Establishment of standard criteria and guidelines regarding software,databases, data warehouse, and network in health related data management;12. Development of clear protocols regarding health information securityand confidentiality;13. Development of criteria and guidelines for data quality;14. Identification of criteria regarding accessibility to health related data andinformation at minimal possible aggregation level;15. Development of guidelines for sharing data across levels and sub-systems;16. Developmentof processes for data transmission, analysis and feedback;