Health Information Systems Assessment for Health Systems Strengthening in Bangladesh - Policy Brief

Jul 19, 2026

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Bangladesh has advanced its routine health information systems to support accurate, timely data for decision-making, planning, and monitoring. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, risks interrupting progress by affecting both health system development and routine data quality and evidence generation. To support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, an HIS assessment (Feb–Apr 2021) reviewed current HIS across MOHFW service delivery channels and identified capacity, human resources, financial provisions, and cost-benefit considerations. It produced recommendations and a roadmap for long-term, sustainable HIS strengthening focused on a culture of information use.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

Background

Goals and objectives

Methodology

Conceptual framework

HIS strengthening model

WHO-ITU eHealth framework

Limitations

Public Disc losure Authorized Policy Brief: Health Information Systems Assessment for Health Systems Strengthening in Bangladesh 1 Ime Asangansi, Rianna Mohammed-Roberts, Maksudul Hannan, Matt Hulse, Asib Nasim June 2021 Pub lic Disc losure Authorized Background Over the last two decades, Bangladesh has made significant progress in improving its routine health information systems (HIS) . The goal of the Bangladesh HIS is to provide accurate and timely health data required for effective decision making. The HIS thus plays a crucial role in strategic planning and is an essential component of sound program development, implementation, and monitoring, upon which improved health outcomes depend. Indeed, Bangladesh has recorded notable progress across a range of health outcomes, especially the maternal and child health outcomes over the last two decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic could derail progress. Decades of progress in developing the health system as well as the HIS could potentially be affected. Generating adequate evidence from a properly functioning HIS is important in guiding the country’s continuous efforts to mitigate against adverse effects and sustaining progress. In this context, understanding the impact of COVID-19 on essential health and nutrition services (EHNS) including the data on key indicators at the national and sub-national levels (regional and district-wise) is a prerequisite for evidence-based policy making. Against this backdrop, an HIS assessment was commissioned with the primary objective of supporting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) in strengthening the quality of its routinely reported administrative data. Specifically, the assessment is focused on: (a) a review of the existing HIS at the two service delivery channels of the MOHFW, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP); and (b) development of a roadmap for HIS strengthening considering long term sustainability and a culture of information use as major goals Goals and objectives This assessment, which was carried out between February and April 2021, at the request of the MOHFW, aimed to identify challenges with the Bangladesh HIS and make recommendations. Specifically, the assessment had three main goals: 1 The financial support for this study was provided by the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents. o Assessment of the MOHFW’s capacity for collection, analysis and use of routine health data from existing information systems; District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), Logistic Management Information System (LMIS), electronic Management Information System (eMIS), Service Statistics (SS), local Open Medical Record System (OpenMRS+) and any other existing platforms including Supply Chain, Surveillance, applications, and portals. o Evaluation of the human resources capacity, financial provisions, and cost benefit analysis, for long term sustainability of the above assessed systems. o Based on the results of the assessment, development of a system strengthening road map for HIS in the form of an Institutional Capacity Strengthening Action Plan, which should include methods, tools, and approaches for addressing capacity challenges and gaps. Methodology A mixed-method approach, involving qualitative and quantitative techniques, was utilized to conduct the assessment. At inception, an initial landscape analysis was conducted based on the grey literature and existing publications collated through online literature search and document solicitation from experts working in the digital health and public health space in Bangladesh. Building on the landscape analysis and international best practice, questionnaires were developed to support key informant interviews (KIIs) and an online self-administered survey (OSAS) . KIIs were held with over 20 participants drawn from government and stakeholders across national, dis

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this policy brief?

It supports the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in strengthening the quality of routinely reported administrative health data through an assessment, recommendations, and a roadmap.

What systems and platforms were included in the HIS assessment?

The assessment focused on existing HIS across MOHFW channels, including DHIS2, LMIS, eMIS, service statistics, OpenMRS+, and related supply chain, surveillance, applications, and portals.

How was the assessment conducted between February and April 2021?

It used a mixed-method approach with landscape analysis, questionnaires for key informant interviews, an online self-administered survey, and a rapid observational software review of selected HIS applications.

Jul 19, 2026

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