Summary

The goal of ongoing phase 2 is to set up the comprehensive Integrated Health Information System (IHIS) in order to achieve full improvement of the IT infrastructure in the health sector and facilitate centralized and timely management and use of reliable data for strategic decision-making. System modernization and improvement of IT infrastructure significantly increase its efficiency and also result in savings related to maintenance and every day operation and thus facilitate significant investments to improve the quality and standard of health services. 

Main activities: 

• Implementation of the comprehensive analysis, which include analysis of the situation of the existing information systems, i.e. mapping of the existing systems, business processes and data flows. 

• Use the results and recommendations of the comprehensive analysis as the basis to define the e-Architecture of IHIS. 

• Propose the institutional - organizational solutions and needed upgrading of the relevant legislation, that would ensure long-term sustainability of the system. 

• Support to development of the key planning documents, which include proposals for the new e-Architecture of the system. 

• Creation of institutional and organizational framework to make IHIS sustainable. 

• Definition of EHR (Electronic Health Record) and adoption of data exchange standards. 

• Development of the central information system for data exchange and control of business processes. 

• Development and implementation of the information system at Clinical Centre of Montenegro. 

• Informatization of the Emergency Medical Assistance;  

• Optimization and upgrade of hardware and software infrastructure. 

• Capacity building (including continuous training, BI, analytics).

Background

The results of the analysis that was carried out during the project's first phase indicate that the existing information system in the health sector is incomplete, fragmented and insufficiently interoperable to provide satisfactory information for the efficient management of the health system. The analysis also indicated the necessity to set up an organisational unit at the Ministry to deal with the information system management, IT and analytical activities. Finally, the key planning documents were produced during the project's first phase including: i) Health Information System Development Strategy 2018- 2023, which include proposals for the new E-architecture of the system, define priority projects such as improvement of the IT infrastructure at the Clinical Centre, and offer solutions for integration of all existing health systems.

Project Outcome

• Informatisation of the healthcare system has been completed and comprehensive Integrated Health Information System (IHIS), including informatization of Clinical Centre of Montenegro, Emergency Medical Assistance, development of the HER, internal and external integration of the systems, and others has been implemented. 

• Necessary renewal of hardware and computer infrastructure has been completed. 

• Support to Ministry of Health to strengthen internal capacities and transfer knowledge to ensure IHIS sustainability has been provided.