Health Institutions in Malawi Implement Digital Information System
News
Jun 07 2010, Malawi [MW], Health
- Source:
- Nic Moens [nmoens(at)iicd.org]
- Country:
- Malawi [MW]
- Sector:
- Health
IICD has helped the Malawian Nkhoma Hospital to implement a hospital management information system (HMIS). This is the first project IICD supports in Malawi.
Nkhoma
Hospital is a 220-bed health facility located in the central region
of Malawi. The
HMIS will be implemented to store patient files digitally so that
if patients return, their medical history is easier to find. The system
is also used in the hospital’s financial department and to keep track
of the pharmacy’s inventory.
The system was set up by request of the Nkhoma Synod Health
Department. The department was impressed with the IICD-supported HMIS
system in Tanzania. With the support of IICD’s Tanzanian partners, the
system was implemented in Malawi.
Eight clinics who work closely with the hospital are planned to
use the HMIS system in the second half of 2010. These clinics refer
specialist cases to Nkhoma Hospital. The clinics are connected with
each other and the hospital. Thanks to this connection, they can easily
exchange information and improves service delivery.
In the near future, two district health offices will also have
HMIS. These districts will use the system to collect health data, for
instance on diseases. With this information, the offices can monitor
and prevent the spread of diseases at district level.