Top DHIS2 Alternatives

The world has been severely impacted by the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. The ways in which people interact with each other is rapidly changing. Social distancing and sanitization seem to be the new normal in this post-COVID-19 world. Moreover, what is saddening to note is the fact that even countries with good healthcare systems seem to be struggling to contain the virus. These countries have well-developed systems, and that at least ensures the transparency and accuracy in the data they report. For the lesser developed and the developing ones, even that is a major issue. Most of the low and middle-income countries have reported lower than expected numbers, and therefore, health experts assert that this is a result of ineffective data reporting mechanisms.

Why use DHSI2?

While some countries may indeed have a low number of infections, the fact remains that the data reporting in these countries have to improve. As the first step in that direction, these countries have begun to use Health Information Management Systems like DHIS2. DHIS2 is an open-source platform, and hence it becomes easy for the health ministries of respective countries to ensure its deployment at multiple levels. The platform essentially streamlines the process of patient data collection, review, and analysis by providing multiple input options and a single dedicated storage facility.

How does it help?

From officials in the health ministry to officials at the city level and finally the workers on the ground, everybody has access to this data and can monitor the progress. Deployment of such systems brings in the much-needed transparency and accountability into the system. A lot of the low and middle-income countries where this platform is used have a high percentage of the rural population that resides in remote villages. A majority of these rural areas do not have access to even the most basic facilities. The use of DHSI2 enables the government of these countries to provide healthcare facilities to even the most obscure regions and helps them build a healthier society.

The learning

Nations around the world are fighting a different type of battle these days. We, as inhabitants of this planet, have a lot to learn from this crisis, and the most important one among them is to make healthcare accessible to every human being. Using DHSI2 is the first step we need to take to achieve that goal.