Pooling human resources needed to leverage open source health information software platforms in developing countries

Abstract

While open source software platforms have emerged as viable options for building health information systems in developing countries, challenges in terms of requisite human resource capacities in some developing countries limit their ability to fully leverage the opportunities such platforms offer. Creating a shared pool of talent across multiple stakeholders has been suggested as a possible strategy to mitigate challenges with human resource capacities in developing countries. However, there is a dearth of HIS or open source literature on the efficacy of pooling human resources capacities needed to leverage open source health information software platforms. This paper contributes by identifying occurrences of staff pooling during the implementation and reconfiguration of the DHIS2 health information software platform in Malawi and assessing the efficacy, challenges and factors for staff pooling as a strategy to mitigate human resource challenges in developing countries.