Malawi Harnesses Digital Technology to Revolutionize Healthcare
eHIN and iCHIS Initiatives Bring Transparency and Efficiency to Health Service Delivery
LILONGWE, Malawi— In a groundbreaking effort to revolutionise healthcare delivery, Malawi is harnessing the power of digital technology with the Electronic Health Information Network (eHIN) and Integrated Community Health Information System (iCHIS), writes Winston Mwale.
These innovative systems, supported by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), are poised to bring transparency, efficiency, and accountability to the country's healthcare sector.
iCHIS
iCHIS is a digital platform designed to support community health workers at the point of care, facilitating informed decision-making and action.
These digital systems are part of the government's broader efforts to extend primary healthcare to all citizens.
“The new system will complement the existing health management information system, shift the focus to the community level, and promote equity, empowerment, and efficiency in healthcare delivery,” said Tasokwa Nkhonjera, Senior Manager of Digital Health at Last Mile Health Malawi.
With the implementation of iCHIS, the country’s community health workers will bid farewell to paper-based data collection tools, ushering in a new era of streamlined reporting and aggregation.
“In Malawi, there is significant national momentum to improve access to and quality of healthcare at the community level,” stated the Last Mile Health website.
“But the country’s community health workers—a cohort of approximately 11,000—are still using paper-based data collection tools, which leads to challenges for data reporting and aggregation.”
Addressing these challenges head-on, iCHIS equips community health workers with an easy-to-use mobile application and web-based platform. This system allows them to record patient data, monitor population health, assess resource availability, track cases, and follow standard protocols and best practices.
By leveraging iCHIS, community health workers will have the power to tackle issues arising from limited access to healthcare services, remote health facilities, and a high disease burden.
“iCHIS has the potential to address many challenges caused or exacerbated by poor access to healthcare services,” said Nkhonjera.
“With its implementation across the country, we can make a significant impact in improving healthcare access, especially in underserved areas.”
Impact
With the implementation of iCHIS, the country's community health workers will bid farewell to paper-based data collection tools, ushering in a new era of streamlined reporting and aggregation.
Addressing these challenges head-on, iCHIS equips community health workers with an easy-to-use mobile application and web-based platform.
This system allows them to record patient data, monitor population health, assess resource availability, track cases, and follow standard protocols and best practises.
By leveraging iCHIS, community health workers will have the power to tackle issues arising from limited access to healthcare services, remote health facilities, and a high disease burden.
Beatrice Banda, a dedicated health surveillance assistant in the local community, eagerly awaits the day when immunisations can be administered with greater speed and efficiency.
She said the transition from paper-based systems to digital solutions, such as the Integrated Community Health Information System (iCHIS), holds the promise of transforming the way healthcare data is collected and managed.
"The iCHIS system has been a game-changer for us," Beatrice asserts. "It has simplified the process of data collection and reporting, allowing us to provide more efficient and timely care to our clients."
With iCHIS, community health workers can record patient data, monitor population health, track cases, and follow standard protocols and best practices, all on one digital platform.
eHIN
Meanwhile, eHIN is a mobile technology-driven system that enables real-time data collection and transmission on health commodities, empowering health workers to track medicines from central warehouses to end-users and report on stock levels and resupply needs.
The eHIN initiative, on the other hand, focuses on transforming the medicine supply chain management system.
Recognising the global challenges faced by public health systems in the management of medicines and medical supplies, eHIN provides a transparent platform to store, track, and consume these essential resources.
By leveraging technology, eHIN ensures increased transparency, accountability, and real-time visibility of medicines and medical supplies at all levels.
The project, which has been in deployment for two years, has already yielded significant results. With heightened visibility and transparency in supply chain transactions, the system has made it easier to detect malpractice, diversions, and theft.
“Our results have shown that the eHIN system is helping ensure that we are more efficient in how we spend our resources and procure drugs,” shared Dr Reuben Nanjira, the District Medical Officer at Ntchisi District Hospital.
“It has also strengthened transparency as it records what every patient who visits the facility has been given and who dispensed each item. This makes it easier to follow up and has helped ensure that medical workers are taking more ownership and are more efficient in keeping track of all records.”
Dr. Nanjira further revealed that Ntchisi District Hospital has saved 24 million kwacha (approximately US$24,000) in just one year while effectively managing its drug budget of 333 million kwacha (approximately US$333,000).
The hospital serves as a learning hub for other facilities, showcasing the successful implementation of the eHIN system and the commitment of its responsible officers.
“The digital transformation has brought a remarkable level of efficiency, making it easy to track records and improve the availability of drugs,” said Mr Bennet Kalebe, Head of Pharmacy at Ntchisi Hospital.
“The resources saved can be used to procure other essential items and services that would further improve our facilities.”
With the financial support of development partners such as UNDP, Norad, the Government of Japan, and SDG-AF, the eHIN Initiative has trained 5,000 health workers across 2,000 health service delivery points in Malawi.
The initiative aims to continue strengthening its implementation and plans to expand to all 8,500 identified service delivery points in the country in its next phase.
As digital health continues to drive universal access to health services, Malawi is at the forefront of leveraging technology to bring positive transformation to its healthcare sector.
Through the deployment of eHIN and iCHIS, the country is experiencing a paradigm shift towards transparency, efficiency, and accountability, ultimately improving the lives of its citizens.