title: Health information system reform in South Africa: developing an essential data set.
abstract: Health services are increasingly under pressure to develop information systems that are responsive to changing health needs and appropriate to service objectives. Developing an essential data set provides managers with a clearly defined set of indicators for monitoring and evaluating services. This article describes a process that resulted in the creation of an essential data set at district level. This had a significant impact on neighbouring districts and resulted in the development of a regional essential data set, which in turn helped to influence the creation of a provincial and then national essential data set. Four key lessons may be drawn from the process. The development of an essential data set both requires and can contribute to a process that allows the reporting requirements to be adjusted over time in response to changing circumstances. In addition, it contributes to (and requires) the integration of programme reporting requirements into a coherent information system. While the case study describes a bottom-up approach, a top-down consultative process is advocated because it establishes a framework within which information needs can be reviewed. Lastly, the use of surveys can aid efforts to keep the essential elements to a minimum. In conclusion, the development of an essential data set contributes to strengthening health services because it necessitates dialogue between programme managers and defines indicators to be monitored by them.
authors.affiliation: Health Information Systems Programme, School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. vshaw@hisp.org
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology