Challenges and Opportunities for Effective Adoption of HRH Information Systems in Developing Countries: National Rollout of HRHIS and TIIS in Tanzania

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dc.creatorIshijima, Hisahiro
dc.creatorMapunda, Martin
dc.creatorMndeme, Mathew
dc.creatorSukums, Felix
dc.creatorMlay, Violeth S.
dc.date2016-09-14T17:16:08Z
dc.date2016-09-14T17:16:08Z
dc.date2015
dc.date.accessioned2018-03-27T08:53:02Z
dc.date.available2018-03-27T08:53:02Z
dc.descriptionBackground The establishment of a functional information system for human resource for health (HRH) was one of the major challenges for the Tanzanian health sector. In 2008, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare developed the HRH Strategic Plan, in which establishment of computerized information systems were one of the strategic objectives. In response to this objective, the Ministry developed two information systems, namely the Human Resource for Health Information System (HRHIS) and the Training Institution Information System (TIIS), to capture information from both the public and private sectors. Case description The national rollout of HRHIS and TIIS was carried out in four phases during a 6 year period between 2009 and 2014. Together with other activities, the rollout process included conducting system operation training and data utilization training for evidence-based planning, development and management of HRH and social welfare workers and health training institutions. Discussion HRHIS was rolled out in all 25 regions of the Tanzanian mainland, including 171 districts, and TIIS was rolled out in all 154 health training institutions and universities. Information is captured from both the private and public health sectors with high-data coverage. The authors identified several key factors for the achievements such as using local experts for developing the systems, involvement of system users, positive attitudes among users, focusing on routine work of the system users and provision of operations and data utilization trainings. However, several challenges were also identified such as getting a consensus on sustainable HR information systems among stakeholders, difficulty in obtaining baseline HRH information, inadequate computer skills and unsatisfactory infrastructure for information and communication technology. We learned that detailed situation analysis and understanding of the reality on the ground helped to reduce the “design–reality gap” and contributed to establishing user-friendly systems and to improve sustainability of the systems. Conclusions This paper illustrates the successful development and national rollout of two information systems for HRH in Tanzania. The approaches used and activities conducted here and lessons learned could be useful for countries which are planning to establish HR information systems.
dc.identifierIshijima, H., Mapunda, M., Mndeme, M., Sukums, F. and Mlay, V.S., 2015. Challenges and opportunities for effective adoption of HRH information systems in developing countries: national rollout of HRHIS and TIIS in Tanzania. Human resources for health, 13(1), p.1.
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3707
dc.identifier10.1186/s12960-015-0043-1
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3707
dc.languageen
dc.publisherBioMed Central
dc.subjectHuman Resource for Health Information System (HRHIS)
dc.subjectTraining Institution Information System (TIIS)
dc.subjectHealth training institutions
dc.subjectNational rollout
dc.subjectUnited Republic of Tanzania
dc.titleChallenges and Opportunities for Effective Adoption of HRH Information Systems in Developing Countries: National Rollout of HRHIS and TIIS in Tanzania
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Reviewed

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