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

PMAC 2010