Requirements for Implementing Digital Health Terminology Standards in Uganda’s Electronic Medical Records-Based Health Information Systems

Abstract

AbstractUganda’s Ministry of Health has implemented numerous electronic-based Health Information Systems. Huge financial investments towards implementing the system are supported by the Uganda government and Health Development Partners. Despite the investments, health information systems in the country are still fragmented and non-interoperable. Non-interoperability is caused by scanty practices and/or implementation of the digital health standards (data and interoperability) and limited to non-compliance of monitoring these standards in the implementation of the healthcare interventions. Addressing the digital health standards challenges will support the effective implementation of the healthcare interventions. Accordingly, this paper focuses on requirements for data and interoperability standards, specifically terminology standards, for Uganda’s Health Information Systems using HIV information systems as a case study. Using expert opinion of stakeholders responsible for standardization in Uganda’s digital health eco-system, the digital health terminology standards requirements were validated. Requirements for implementing digital health terminology standards constitute; mapping of healthcare business processes, developing terminology services, having functional governance structures, and terminology standards capacity building.KeywordsDigital healthTerminology standardsElectronic health information systems