A surveillance information system as a management tool: a report from Papua New Guinea

To have a very good surveillance system, it is paramount important to have a functional health information system that could be easily used for monitoring and investigation of disease outbreaks. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) a national health information system was developed, trailed and implemented nationwide. Furthermore to have the system working linked to it must be the local health system for sustainability and control. A public health manual for disease surveillance in PNG was developed and is now being used for surveillance. This paper describes how the health information system, particularly surveillance system was developed and implemented on the national scale, how it was integrated with other management information systems and how information has been used to support management decision-making and informed policy decision. It will highlight some of the hurdles that it has encountered while trying to implement the system. PNG has one of the best national health information system as compared to many developing countries but limited information generated from the system. There was also less feedback from all levels of the health sector. We need to improve surveillance on the basic principles of integration, focus, and sharing of work. There must be an appropriate and timely response and feedback. We need to improve on the current system rather than building a new one.