Abstract
This chapter starts by exploring the definition of ‘health information system’, what different elements constitute a health information system and how are these linked. Next, health information system governance is addressed by applying common principles of good governance to a health information system context. The following section focuses on national, subnational and international health information systems in Europe. What are the characteristics of health information systems at these various administrative levels? What are the differences and communalities between national health information systems in European countries? How do the main international organizations structure their health information systems? The chapter ends with an outlook on current and future developments that are likely to have a substantial influence on the way health information systems operate.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anell, A., Glenngård, A., & Merkur, S. (2012). Sweden: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 14(5), 1–159.
Azzopardi-Muscat, N., Vassallo, P., Calleja, N., Usava, A., Zambon, F., Stein, C., & On behalf of the Small Countries Health Information Network (SCHIN). (2016). Health information systems in small countries of the WHO European region: Report from the small countries health information network. Public Health Panorama, 2(3), 279–284.
Berrino, F., Verdecchia, A., Lutz, J. M., Lombardo, C., Meicheli, A., Capocaccia, R., & the EUROCARE Working Group. (2009). Comparative cancer survival information in Europe. European Journal of Cancer, 45, 901–908.
Brand, H., & Cornelius-Taylor, B. (2003). Evaluation of National and Regional Public Health Reports. Final report to the European Commission. Bielefeld, Institute of Public Health Nordrhein Westfalen (LOEGD). https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_projects/2000/monitoring/fp_monitoring_2000_frep_05_en.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Bryndova, L., Pavlokova, K., Rokosova, M., Gaskins, M., & Ginneken, E. (2009). Czech Republic: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 11(1), 1–122.
Buitendijk, S., Zeitlin, J., Cuttini, M., Langhoff-Roos, J., & Bottu, J. (2003). Indicators of fetal and infant health outcomes. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, 111(Suppl 1), S66–S77.
Carinci, F., Van Gool, K., Mainz, J., Veillard, J., Pichora, E. C., Januel, J. M., Arispe, I., Kim, S. M., Klazinga, N. S., & OECD Health Care Quality Indicators Expert Group. (2015). Towards actionable international comparisons of health system performance: Expert revision of the OECD framework and quality indicators. International Journal for Quality in Health Care: Journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, 27(2), 137–146.
Carrol, P., & Kellow, A. (2011). The OECD: A study of organisational adaptation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Chevreul, K., Durand-Zaleski, I., Bahrami, S., Hernández-Quevedo, C., & Mladovsky, P. (2010). France: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 12(6), 1–291.
Council of the European Union. (2013). Council Conclusions on the ‘Reflection process on modern, responsive and sustainable health systems’. Brussels: council meeting 10 december 2013. Employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/140004.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Elliott, H. (2013). European Union health information infrastructure and policy. In S. L. Greer & P. Kurzer (Eds.), European Union Public Health Policy Regional and global trends. Abingdon: Routledge.
European Commission. (2007). White paper. Together for Health: A strategic approach for the EU 2008–2013 (COM:630:final). https://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/Documents/strategy_wp_en.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
European Commission. (2014). Commission Implementing Decision of 26.5.2014 concerning the work programme for 2014 in the framework of the third Programme of the Union’s action in the field of health (2014–2020) and the EU financial contribution to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, serving as financing decision. Brussels: European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/health//sites/health/files/programme/docs/wp2014_en.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
European Parliament, Council of the European Union. (1997). Decision on adopting a programme of Community action on health monitoring within the framework of action in the field of public health (1997-2001). 1400/97/EC. Official Journal of the European Communities, L193, 1–10.
European Parliament and the Council. (2008). Regulation (EC) No 1338/2008 on community statistics on public health and health and safety at work. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008R1338. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
European Union. (1992). The Maastricht Treaty. Maastricht: The Treaty on the European Union (TEU) https://europa.eu/european-union/sites/europaeu/files/docs/body/treaty_on_european_union_en.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
EURO-URHIS. (2017). Health Profiles. The University of Manchester. http://www.urhis.eu/healthprofiles/. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Gaál, P., Szigeti, S., Csere, M., Gaskins, M., & Panteli, D. (2011). Hungary: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 13(5), 1–266.
García-Armesto, S., Abadía-Taira, M., Durán, A., Hernández-Quevedo, C., & Bernal-Delgado, E. (2010). Spain: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 12(4), 1–295.
Gerkens, S., & Merkur, S. (2010). Belgium: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 12(5), 1–266.
Gissler, M., Dumitrescu, A., & Addor, V. (2006). Improving the performance of National Health Information Systems: The 2002–2003 reform in Finland from an international perspective. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/107685/1/E88075.pdf. Accessed 6 Sept 2017.
Graham, J., Amos, B., & Plumptre, T. (2003). Principles for good governance in the 21st century. Policy Brief No.15. Institute On Governance: Ottawa https://iog.ca/docs/2003_August_policybrief15.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Health Systems and Policy Monitor. (2012). European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. http://www.hspm.org/countries/france25062012/countrypage.aspx. Accessed 19 Jul 2017.
Lafortune, G. (2016). OECD Health Information System Activities. https://eupha.org/repository/sections/PHMR/Preconf_2016/04_Lafortune_OECD_Health_Info_Activities_Day2.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Lo Scalzo, A., Donatini, A., Orzella, L., Profili, S., Cicchetti, A., Profi, L. S., & Maresso, A. (2009). Italy: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 11(6), 1–216.
Michelsen, K., Brand, H., Achterberg, P., & Wilkinson, J. (2015). Promoting better integration of health information systems: best practices and challenges (Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.
OECD. (1999). Framework for Co-operation between OECD and WHO. Note by the Secretary-General C(99)196. https://www.oecd.org/globalrelations/oecdpartnershipswithinternationalorganisations/36545479.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
OECD. (2013). Strengthening health information infrastructure for health care quality governance. Good practices, new opportunities and data privacy protection challenges. Paris: OECD.
OECD. (2017). Health Policy in Your Country. http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/health-policy-in-your-country.htm. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Rechel, B., McKee, M., Haas, M., et al. (2016). Public reporting on quality, waiting times and patient experience in 11 high-income countries. Health Policy, 120(4), 377–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.02.008.
Ringard, Å., Sagan, A., Sperre Saunes, I., & Lindahl, A. (2013). Norway: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 15(8), 1–162.
Rosenkötter, N., Annuß, R., Borrmann, B., & Mekel, O. (2016). Regional population health monitoring at the North Rhine-Westphalia Institute for Health, Germany. Public Health Panorama, 2(3), 388–393.
Seychell, M., & Hackbart, B. (2013). The EU Health Strategy – Investing in Health. Public Health Reviews. Public Health Reviews, 35, 1.
Szalay, T., Pažitný, P., Szalayová, A., Frisová, S., Morvay, K., Petrovič, M., & Ginneken, E. (2011). Slovakia: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 13(2), 1–200.
Turcanu, G., Domente, S., Buga, M., & Richardson, E. (2012). Republic of Moldowa. Health system review. Copenhagen: World Health Organization http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/178053/HiT-Moldova.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
UNESCAP. (n.d.). United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). What is Good Governance? http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/good-governance.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Van Bon-Martens, M. J., Van De Goor, L. A., Achterberg, P. W., & Van Oers, J. A. (2011). The development of an empirical model for regional public health reporting. A descriptive study in two Dutch pilot regions. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 39, 608–617.
Verschuuren, M., Diallo, K., Calleja, N., Burazeri, G., & Stein, C. (2016). First experiences with a WHO tool for assessing health information systems. Public Health Panorama, 2(3), 249–400.
Vladescu, C., Scintee, G., Olsavszky, V., Allin, S., & Mladovsky, P. (2008). Romania: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 10(3), 1–172.
WHO. (1946). Constitution of the World Health Organization. New York: World Health Organization http://www.who.int/about/mission/en/. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2008a). Framework and standards for country health information systems (2nd ed.). Geneva: World Health Organization http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43872/1/9789241595940_eng.pdf. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2008b). Toolkit on monitoring health systems strengthening. Health information systems (draft version). World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/toolkit_hss/EN_PDF_Toolkit_HSS_InformationSystems.pdf. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2012). Republic of Moldova adopts national programme on alcohol control. World Health Organization. Copenhagen: Regional Office for Europe http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/republic-of-moldova/news/news/2012/05/republic-of-moldova-adopts-national-programme-on-alcohol-control. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2013). Health 2020. A European Policy Framework and Strategy for the 21st Century. Copenhagen: World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/199532/Health2020-Long.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2015). City fact sheets. WHO European Healthy Cities Network. Geneva: World Health Organization http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/280842/CityFactSheetsBook_12-06.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2017a). European health information initiative. Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/287275/EHII_Booklet_EN_rev1.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 20 Jul 2017.
WHO. (2017b). World Health Statistics 2017: Monitoring health for the SDGs. Geneva: World Health Organization http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/2017/en/. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.
WHO. (2017c). About WHO, what we do. Geneva: World Health Organization http://www.who.int/about/what-we-do/en/. Accessed 19 Jul 2017.
Zeitlin, J., & Mohangoo, A. On behalf of the EURO-Peristat project. (2008). European Perinatal Health Report: EURO-Peristat. http://www.europeristat.com/images/doc/EPHR/european-perinatal-health-report.pdf. Accessed 8 Sept 2017.
Further Reading
Health Metrics Network Tools:
Assessing the National Health Information System (2008). An Assessment Tool. Version 4.00.
Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systems (2012). 2nd ed.
Other:Health systemi reviews (Health Systems in Transition (HiT) series) of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
Rosenkötter, N. (2017). Advancing public health surveillance in Europe (thesis).
Support tool to assess health information systems and develop and strengthen health information strategies (2015). Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rechel, B., Rosenkoetter, N., Verschuuren, M., van Oers, H. (2019). Health Information Systems. In: Verschuuren, M., van Oers, H. (eds) Population Health Monitoring. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76562-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76562-4_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76561-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76562-4
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)