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Health Information Systems Strengthening in Pacific Island Nations

by Michael Thomas 1,*
1
Michael Thomas
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
AMJ  2020, 9; 2(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20200514
Received: 20 March 2020 / Accepted: 16 April 2020 / Published Online: 14 May 2020

Abstract

The Pacific Island Nations (PINs) face numerous challenges in health information systems (HIS), which are crucial for effective healthcare delivery and public health decision-making. This paper explores the current state of health information systems in PINs, highlighting the gaps and opportunities for strengthening these systems. The analysis is based on a review of existing literature, including case studies and policy documents. The findings indicate that PINs suffer from limited infrastructure, lack of skilled personnel, and insufficient funding, which hinders the proper functioning and utilization of HIS. The paper proposes a multi-faceted approach to strengthen HIS in PINs, emphasizing the need for policy reforms, capacity building, and regional collaboration. Strategies such as integrating technology with community health practices, training local health workers, and promoting data sharing and interoperability are recommended. The importance of addressing these challenges is underscored by the potential to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance disease surveillance, and support evidence-based policy development in PINs.


Copyright: © 2020 by Thomas. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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ACS Style
Thomas, M. Health Information Systems Strengthening in Pacific Island Nations. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 2020, 2, 9. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20200514
AMA Style
Thomas M. Health Information Systems Strengthening in Pacific Island Nations. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal; 2020, 2(1):9. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20200514
Chicago/Turabian Style
Thomas, Michael 2020. "Health Information Systems Strengthening in Pacific Island Nations" Asia-Pacific Medical Journal 2, no.1:9. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20200514
APA style
Thomas, M. (2020). Health Information Systems Strengthening in Pacific Island Nations. Asia-Pacific Medical Journal, 2(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.69610/j.amj.20200514

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