What systems are essential to achieving the sustainable development goals and what will it take to marshal them?
The sustainable development goal (SDG) for health is linked to 67 indicators, eight times more than their predecessor, the Millenium Development Goals. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the information infrastructure is not yet able to collect and use the data needed for the indicators. As they seek to be responsive to the SDG agenda, LMICs must not lose sight of their local data needs; they should be cautious about embracing untested electronic technologies for data collection, analysis, and use; carefully balance the care provision and data collection responsibilities of care providers; and use evidence of what works in strengthening their health information systems (HIS). While attending to these concerns, countries can look for instances in which SDG indicators are in sync with their own HIS goals.
MEASURE Evaluation, Carolina Population Center and Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA jim.thomas@unc.edu.
James C
JC
Thomas
MEASURE Evaluation, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC and Department of Global Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Eva
E
Silvestre
MEASURE Evaluation, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC and ICF International, Fairfax, VA, USA.
Shannon
S
Salentine
MEASURE Evaluation, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Heidi
H
Reynolds
MEASURE Evaluation, Carolina Population Center and Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Jason
J
Smith
D003625:Data Collection; D003906:Developing Countries; D014943:Global Health; D006040:Goals; D063005:Health Information Systems / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation
Evidence-based policy; Millennium Development Goals; health information system; health systems research; implementation; international health; measurement