Development of a health information system for the Maltese Islands : status quo and future plans for the Health Services Information Unit

Abstract

Among the 38 regional targets laid down by the World Health Organization for attaining the goal of " Health for all by the year 2000" is one entirely dedicated to the setting up of a Health Information System. Target 35 states that: "Before 1990, Member States should have health information systems capable of supporting their national strategies for health for all. " So it was that in May 1983 a Health Services Information Unit (H.S.I.U. ) was established with the following objectives: (i) To provide a systematic and analytical basic source of information fundamental to health services and their development; (ii) To ensure a critical evaluation of the development and implementation of health programmes in the light of predetermined health indicators; (iii) To provide a computerised register containing comprehensive medical data on all persons coming into contact with the health services (this will eventually cover the entire population) with the aim of providing readily available clinical information to medical practitioners on the patients they are treating, of scheduling appointments and follow up procedures, of managing immunisation and the preventive programmes and of conducting surveys and research.