Guidance for health information system governance

Overview

Health Information System (HIS) governance is the process of decision-making about the HIS and the process by which these decisions are implemented. While good HIS governance is important for effective, efficient and transparent operation of the HIS itself, it is also a prerequisite for good health system governance. Nevertheless, HIS governance mechanisms are commonly ill defined and/or function inadequately.

This guidance provides an overview of attributes and tools for good governance in general, and for good HIS governance in particular. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defined good governance as being participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and following the rule of law. These well known attributes of good governance are applicable to a HIS context as well. In addition, guiding principles for HIS development, building on the OECD Paris declaration on aid effectiveness, can serve as a useful tool for HIS governance improvement.

This guidance document is part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s work on supporting Member States in strengthening their health information systems. Helping countries to produce solid health intelligence and institutionalized mechanisms for evidence-informed policy-making has traditionally been an important focus of WHO’s work and continues to be so under the European Programme of Work 2020–2025.