Description of the national health information system in Romania : results of a participative evaluation conducted in June 2003 / by Irma Eva Csiki, Aurelia Marcu and Carmen Ungurean

ABSTRACT

This assessment of the National Health Information System (NHIS) in Romania was conducted as part of a project of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its goal is to enable a better use of information in decision-making, while holding into account the other factors influencing decisions. The methodology was developed with the authors in June 2003 and is currently being tested in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary and Poland. Semi-structured interviews of key-informants at the highest level, both decision-makers and professionals working in the field of health information, were performed by a Romanian team, with the support of WHO. Special attention was given to the processes taking place at sub-national level. The project aims at building capacities in health information at country level, and serving as a basis for reviewing and strengthening NHIS; as a result, this system could be a better instrument for good governance, responsive to the needs of modern Public Health as expressed by different audiences and initiatives