Transcript Information Management Transformation Program

Strategies for improving
civil registration and vital
statistics systems
Discussant: Dr AJ Lanyon
Australian Bureau of Statistics
29 June 2011
Papers/Presentations
• 2 papers/presentations were very
complementary
• ECA
• Very good overview of key components of an
improvement strategy
• VSC, Canada:
• Lived example of a commitment to ongoing
improvement in a way that links the CRS and
the VSS
2
Reflections on Chapter IV
• Support (in general) endorsement
of content of existing Chapter IV
• Chap IV is clear
– not meant to be comprehensive
– draws attention to importance of
improvement strategies
– framed to cover both CRS and VSS
• One size will not fit all (ECA paper)
3
Reflections on Chapter IV
• Emphasis in next P+R?
– A monitoring and improvement plan
should be INTEGRAL to system
design – governance, regular
operation, commitment to training
– Risks when seen as an add-on
– Periodic independent evaluation has a
role – but should not be the sole focus
of investment in improvement
4
Reflections on Chapter IV
• WHO / UQ HIS-Hub Assessment
Framework and tool provides:
– comprehensive resource for reviewing
CRS and VS produced
– results in of improvement/action plans
to achieve sustainable CRS
• Covers:
– number of components raised by ECA
– majority of components of Chapter IV
5
Reflections on Chapter IV
• Ensuring strong links between CRS
and VSS is important – interagency co-ordinating mechanisms
are key (Canadian experience)
• Feedback loops at operational level
also important
• Not sure current Chapter
emphasises importance of
CRS/VSS links sufficiently
6
Reflections on Chapter IV
• Some further comments:
– Need to be careful about how to frame
membership of co-ordination
committees
– Stakeholder analysis should inform
– Could be a way of making links with
Health Agencies and the research
community (key part of CRS and
VSS)
7
Reflections on Chapter IV
• Some further comments:
– ECA paper (para 27) re-affirms value
of targeted outreach program to
address problem areas (applicable to
developing and developed countries)
– Mobilization of funds is important –
balance between national and donor
funding required to be sustainable
– With UQ HIS-Hub, ABS developed a
tool to assist in development of
‘business cases’ to obtain $
8
Reflections on Chapter IV
• Some final (!) comments:
– Keeping abreast of ICT developments
is key but challenging (Canadian
experience is heartening –
demonstrates value in collaboration!)
– Access to technical
expertise/resources required to
support improvement
– Role to play by regional programmes
to monitor and support strong CRS +
VSS.
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