Description of Session
The ultimate goal of digital health information systems is provision of information to multiple users for decision making. Information is of little value if it is not available in formats that meet the needs of multiple users − policy-makers, planners, managers, health care providers, communities, and individuals (World Health Organization, 2018). Digital health systems can only meet these expectations if supported by appropriate leadership and governance structures. It is pivotal that governance of digital health systems is integrated into broader organizational governance frameworks. A significant role for health leaders is in ensuring that the value of digital systems is fully realized by translating data into action. In the Kenyan context, there are many internal actors drawn from various government ministries and departments that influence health policies, resource allocation and oversight. All these actors rely on information from digital health systems for decision making. The departments of health confirmed that the other departments like planning and finance have challenges in understanding some of the health priorities and indicators. The USAID-Tupime Kaunti project designed and is implementing the Leadership Development and Governance (LDG) group model, whose objective is to enhance the linkage of data to action by health leaders and to ensure that digital health systems are sustained. The LDG group model is founded on the need for an integrated internal leadership structure that brings all key decision makers that have an influence on health together for evidence-based decision making. This group is tasked with increasing the scale of data utilization in policy making, budgeting and decision making. They are also responsible for strengthening structures and policies for digital health systems.
