PMAC 2010

Global Health Information Forum

26-30 January 2010
Centara Grand at Central World, Bangkok, Thailand

In 2010 a ‘Call to Action’ on Health Information System (HIS) will be launched to fully support and recognize that HIS strengthening is critical to improving global health. To ensure effective coordination, the Health Metrics Network, the Prince Mahidol Award Conference, with support of the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation and other partners, will hold the Global Health Information Forum dedicated to bringing stakeholders together and providing a platform for a renewed energy and commitment to investing in and building the capacities of health information systems.

BACKGROUND

Accurate information provides a foundation for sound decisionmaking. Where public health is concerned, the difference between good decisions and poor decisions can mean the difference between life and death. The lack of reliable information on the causes of sickness and death is a major obstacle for any attempt to improve the health of people in developing countries. Health information is essential to track the health needs of populations, to guide the design and implementation of health programmes, and to assess what works and what does not.

To set up and maintain a successful health-information system is a considerable task, requiring a network of partners, working towards a common goal. Several partners including the Health Metrics Network, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Prince Mahidol Award Conference will hold the fi rst Global Conference on Health Information Systems. This conference is in line with the commitment by the G8 meeting in July 2008 on Health Systems Strengthening which focuses on Health Information Systems, Human Resources for Health and Health Care Financing. This commitment had produced a strong impetus to the movement to further strengthen HIS.

OBJECTIVES

Four core objectives are proposed:

1. Firmly position HIS as a strategic driver of health systems strengthening and performance management of broader development outcomes.

Highlight the benefi ts of strong HIS and their potential role in transforming the effectiveness of health systems and the performance of multisectoral development outcomes.
Raise awareness of past neglect of this area of health and the consequences, especially in developing countries (e.g. Reporting burden on countries, national variances inattitudes towards HIS, lack of technical consistency, lack of ways to share best practices, impact on allocation of results-based global health funds).
Highlight the importance of HIS to manage performance, monitor and evaluate progress towards the MDGs (reference to MDG reporting in 2010), and monitor the effectiveness of donor health funding.

2. Broaden and unite the constituency of potential allies behind a shared vision and action plan for HIS strengthening.

Broaden the diversity and interaction of groups engaged in HIS: health, fi nance, information technology, civil society, and others.
Raise visibility of the cause and the breadth of engagement to a higher level.
Inspire broad social movement necessary to achieve progress in HIS.
Identify ways for different partners to work together and contribute their unique strengths towards a common goal.
Promote key HMN values: partnership, country leadership, transparency, coherence, sustainability, empowering.

3. Showcase HIS progress and capacity-building in developing countries.

Outline critical elements for success: political leadership and champions; technological leadership and innovation; expert consensus around the approach; management that effectively uses the information; sufficient financial resources.
Highlight the HMN Framework and strategy, and the catalytic role of HMN in improving HIS.
Highlight key investments and results to date.
Highlight the major challenges, gaps and common ground for future progress.
Announce awards for major HIS successes and champions.

4. Secure high-level commitment to drive future action.

Highlight relevant commitments and endorsements to date (e.g. WHA endorsement of the HMN Framework in 2007).
Create a shared understanding of the potential of HIS.
Public declaration of support for HIS through a ‘Call to Action’.

OUTCOMES

Ensure HIS has prominent place on health and development agendas.
Capacity of the HMN Network goes to scale.
Recognition for HMN’s enabling role, and progress to date in individual countries.
Broad understanding among stakeholders of the potential of HIS to improve the effectiveness of public health expenditure and actions.
High-level ‘Call to Action’ of commitment to HIS and proposed path forward.
Outcome document reporting accomplishments of the Forum, follow-up actions, and a Marketplace publication of emerging good practice in HIS.

PMAC 2010 International Organizing Committee

Name - Surname	Position	Organization	Role
Dr. Vicharn Panich	Chairman	Mahidol University Council Nakhon Pathom, Thailand	Chairman
Dr. Timothy Evans	Assistant Director-General, Information,Evidence and Research	World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland	Co-Chair
Dr. Sally Stansfield	Executive Secretary	Health Metrics Network Geneva, Switzerland	Co-Chair
Dr. Julian Schweitzer	Director, Health, Nutrition and Population, Human Development Network	The World Bank Washington D.C., USA	Member
Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez	Managing Director	The Rockefeller Foundation New York, USA	Member
Dr. Lincoln Chen	President	China Medical Board Massachusetts, USA	Member
Dr. Paul Cheung	Director	United Nations Statistics Division New York, USA	Member
Dr. Myint Htwe	Director, Programme Management	WHO/SEARO New Delhi, India	Member
Dr. Daniel Low-Beer	Unit Director, Performance, Impact and Effectiveness	The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Geneva, Switzerland	Member
Dr. Jaime Sepulveda	Director, Integrated Health Solutions Development, Global Health Program	Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Washington, USA	Member
Dr. Christopher Murray	Director	Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Washington, USA	Member
Dr. Mark Smolinski	Director, Global Public Health	Google.org California, USA	Member
Mr. Mohamed El Heyba Lemrabott Berrou	Manager	PARIS 21 Paris, France	Member
Prof. Keizo Takemi	Research Fellow	Harvard School of Public Health Massachusetts, USA	Member
Dr. Prat Boonyavongvirot	Permanent Secretary	Ministry of Public Health Nontaburi, Thailand	Member
Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul	Permanent Secretary	Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangkok, Thailand	Member
Dr. Supat Vanichakarn	Secretary-General	Prince Mahidol Award Foundation Bangkok, Thailand	Member
Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn	President	Mahidol University Nakhon Pathom, Thailand	Member
Dr. Teerawat Kulthanan	Vice President, Prince Mahidol Award Foundation Dean, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital	Mahidol University Bangkok Thailand	Member
Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert	Senior Advisor on Disease Control	Ministry of Public Health Nontaburi, Thailand	Member
Dr. Viroj Tangcharoensathien	Director, International Health Policy Programme	Ministry of Public Health Nontaburi, Thailand	Member
Dr. Pongpisut Jongudomsuk	Director	Health Systems Research Institute Nontaburi, Thailand	Member
Ms. Elizabeth Ashbourne	Director, Global Health Forum	Health Metrics Network/World Bank Washington D.C., USA	Member and Secretary
Ms. Frances Rice	Chief for Communications and Advocacy	Health Metrics Network Geneva, Switzerland	Member and Secretary
Dr. Churnrurtai Kanchanachitra	Vice President	Mahidol University Nakhon Pathom, Thailand	Member and Secretary
Dr. Sureeporn Punpuing	Director, Institute for Population and Social Research	Mahidol University Nakhon Pathom, Thailand	Member and Secretary
Dr. Achra Sumboonnanonda	Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital	Mahidol University Bangkok, Thailand	Member and Secretary
Dr. Sopida Chavanichkul	Director, International Health Bureau	Ministry of Public Health Nontaburi, Thailand	Member and Secretary
Dr. Pinij Faramnuayphol	Director	Health Information System Development Office Nontaburi, Thailand	Member and Secretary