AeHIN’s Mind the GAPS Framework are the learning points and key messages garnered from AeHIN-organized conferences and meetings in recent years.

AeHIN believes that interoperability and responsive health information systems are possible. Through the Mind the GAPS Framework, the complex points in HIS can be compartmentalized. It summarizes the main areas that countries can work on in order to efficiently and effectively carry out their eHealth plans.

AeHIN encourages countries to lay out a clear governance structure and framework to guide the design and implementation of a blueprint (enterprise architecture). This governance structure and framework should ensure that stakeholders understand and follow the blueprint (program management) and standards needed for interoperability.

The AeHIN Mind the GAPS Playbook promotes capacity-building in IT Governance (COBIT5), enterprise architecture (TOGAF), program management (PRINCE2), and standards and interoperability (HL7/IHE).

CONVERGENCE WORKSHOPS

MYANMAR (August 19-20, 2015)

The Ministry of Health-Myanmar and the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and other development partners held a workshop on Health Information System (HIS) Strengthening at the Horizon Lake View Resort Hotel. The workshop reviewed the current HIS status, priorities and barriers, and discussed steps towards developing and implementing a comprehensive country HIS. It engaged Myanmar government officials from Ministry of Health, University of Public Health, Central Statistical Organization, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, and from organizations such as the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and Marie Stopes International Myanmar. Approximately 60 participants participated in both plenary sessions and brainstorming sessions. Four separate working groups based on eHealth components from WHO-ITU National eHealth Strategy Toolkit such as I) Strategy and Investment, II) Services and applications, Standards and Interoperability, Infrastructure, III) Legislation, policy and compliance and IV) Workforce were formed. The groups identified the gaps and made several recommendations on the related topics during the workshop. Workshop outcomes look to a promising eHealth for development in Myanmar: country stakeholders recognized the significance the holistic development of country eHealth/HIS. The Ministry of Health high-level administrators acknowledge the importance and support the eHealth/HIS strengthening strategy. eHealth and HIS Blueprint, interoperability and health information standards are highlighted and recognized as the essential components of the country eHealth/HIS development.

BHUTAN (June 2016)

The Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN), Ministry of Health (Royal Government of Bhutan), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF),MEASURE Evaluation and other development partners co-organized the Bhutan eHealth Action Plan Workshop: Weaving Health and Happiness with ICT with funding support from the World Health Organization (WHO). It was held at the Khangkhu Resort, Paro, Bhutan on 21-23 June 2016. It engaged Bhutanese government officials from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Communications, other relevant government organisations and eHealth solution providers such as Thoughtworks, RingMD and MedCube. Altogether approximately 70 participants participated in 3-day workshop and brainstorming sessions. The groups were formed based on the eHealth components from WHO-ITU National eHealth Strategy Toolkit : I) Leadership and Governance, Strategy and Investment, II) Legislation, policy and compliance III) Infrastructure, Standards and Interoperability and Services and applications, IV) HIS and eHealth Workforce. Challenges were identified and short-term and long-term action plans were proposed during the workshop. The workshop objectives were to review current and planned health information systems and e-Health solutions, to identify priorities, key actions, and investments towards developing more cost-effective, sustainable, interoperable e-Health solutions and to sensitize stakeholders on the importance of e-Health governance, policy, enterprise architecture framework, standardization and interoperability, capacity development and program management, and how these relate to the national eHealth strategy. Workshop Outcomes: – eHealth is important for realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and achieve goal of nation with best health – Bhutan eHealth Strengthening Roadmap for the remaining 5 Years Plan period was identified. – Priority activities within 7 National eHealth Components were identified.

HANOI, VIET NAM (February 15-17, 2017)

The Ministry of Health Vietnam hosted a convergence workshop last February 13 to 15, 2017. Initiated by the General Department for Preventive Medicine, the workshop was supported by the Ministry of Health-Information Technology Department and other health departments of the MOH. As in previous convergence workshops facilitated by AeHIN in Myanmar, Bhutan, Indonesia, participants appreciate the need to work together in order to manage the complex requirements of a comprehensive and effective national health information system. The Vietnam convergence workshop was made possible with support from WHO, ADB, UNICEF, and other partners.

DILI, TIMOR LESTE (April 27, 2017)

World Health Organization (WHO)-South East Asia Regional Office in collaboration with Ministry of Health (Timor-Leste) brought together a team of development partners including UNICEF, and AeHIN to support Timor-Leste Health Information System, digital health, and CRVS. Two workshops were being held during the team visit in Dili: 1) One-day workshop for target setting and action planning for monitoring and evaluation of Health-related Sustainable Development Goals 3 and other health related SDGs targets: The objectives were to understand the status of the national health information system and CRVS, review and discuss data quality improvement, data management, data analysis, data use for health policy and planning, HIS/CRVS implementation on achieving UHC and strengthening national health system and Interoperability and use of DHIS2 and related platforms. 2) One-day convergence meeting on health information systems strengthening and eHealth investment planning was convened to discuss on operationalization of the Health Management Information System National Strategic Plan and an overall Health Information System (HIS) architecture, prioritizing activities for short- and long-term implementation and explore strengthening existing links between HIS and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics. The team identified the activities needed to emphasize to a greater extent including the eHealth components from WHO-ITU National eHealth Strategy Toolkit, Data management, quality, analysis, use and Civil Registration & Vital Statistics.

KATHMANDU, NEPAL (July 24-27, 2017)

The Ministry of Health (Government of Nepal), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) and other development partners organized an eHealth Convergence and Planning Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal last July 24 to 27. The current and planned health information systems and eHealth solutions of Nepal were discussed during the workshop. Lessons learned and best practices of the country were synthesized. eHealth governance, policy, enterprise architecture framework, standardization and interoperability and program management related to the National eHealth Strategy of Nepal were also tackled. Priorities, key actions, and investments towards developing and managing more cost-effective, sustainable, and interoperable eHealth solutions, too, were identified to improve the health service delivery and strengthen health systems in the country. Stakeholders were brought together to optimize resources and adopt standards. Nepalese government officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Communications, Department of Information Technology, Department of Civil Registration, National ID Management Center, Nepal Police, Institute of Medicine, and Kathmandu University attended the workshop. Development partners such as WHO, GIZ, AeHIN, UNICEF, DFID, USAID, and UNFPA also took part in the event. Dr. Alvin Marcelo (Philippines), Dr. Fazilah Allaudin (Malaysia), Mr. Jai Ganesh (India) and Ms. Win Min Thit (Myanmar) of the AeHIN leadership also participated as resource persons in the event. The eHealth components (Leadership and Governance, Strategy and Investment, Services and Application, Standards and Interoperability, Infrastructure, Legislation, Policy and Compliance, and Workforce) from the WHO-ITU National eHealth Strategy Toolkit and the AeHIN GAPS Framework (Government, Architecture, Program Management, and Standards and Interoperability) were introduced in the workshop. The Nepal eHealth Roadmap and detailed action plans were proposed during the event. This was the sixth convergence workshop that AeHIN has supported. Previous workshops were held in Myanmar (August 2015), Bhutan (June 2016), Indonesia (November 2016), Vietnam (February 2017) and Timor-Leste (April 2017).

BHUTAN (October 28-29, 2020)

View proceedings here

LAO (March 2021)

Summary in English (website is currently down)

Full report in English (website is currently down)