Technical meeting on strengthening health information systems in the European Region in the framework of the Health Metrics Network : Copenhagen, 20-22 March 2007

Abstract

The technical meeting on strengthening health information systems in the European Region in the framework of the Health Metrics Network, Copenhagen 20-22 March, was organized jointly by the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe and the Health Metrics Network (‎HMN)‎. The countries represented were Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Country experts came from Ministries of Health as well as from the National Statistical Offices. Other participants included representatives of donor organizations and partners, in particular DANIDA and GAVI, as well as staff of various technical departments of the WHO Headquarters and the Regional Office for Europe.The objectives of the meeting were: to highlight the contribution of well-functioning Health Information Systems to the overall strengthening of the quality and responsiveness of Health System; to build capacities in country teams for the development and implementation of plans to strengthen HIS ;to share lessons learned from country experiences in HIS development;to foster harmonization and to align the development partners' support for country initiatives to strengthen HIS. The wish for technical support by HMN for the application of the newer tools as well as for the support of the national processes was expressed by several countries, as well as the need for support in resource mobilization with other partners and donors. All participants felt that one important function of HMN in the region could be to act as a convener and facilitator of meetings of experts and policy makers, bringing actors and interested parties together across various public and private sectors