The Ministry of Health has launched the Maldives Integrated Health Information System (MIHIS), a digital portal which provides access to all information in relation to child-health from infancy onwards.
The portal, developed in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) was inaugurated by the Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim.
MIHIS integrates data from all health sector information collection systems into a single platform. The portal will provide access to information on children born from 1 January, from the vitamin supplements and injections they receive to their growth charts.
According to the Health Ministry, parents can monitor their children's’ development and growth through the portal. The system features automated SMS alerts to parents when vaccinations are due for their children.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim described the newly launched portal as a step forward in efforts to improve the quality of health services provided to the Maldives’ geographically dispersed population. He highlighted ongoing efforts to create health architecture blueprints, revealing that the plans will be ready for implementation by mid next year.
“Once this blueprint is prepared and enforced, it allows every citizen to securely access their vital health information from infancy. As a result, every citizen will be able to take precautions for early disease prevention, assess the risks to their health, and monitor their health. This will empower individuals to take control of their health and seek treatment when necessary,” the Minister said.
Speaking at the ceremony, WHO Maldives Office Head Dr. Padmal De Silva said the public portal will empower people to access their health information and improve their health. He assured that the WHO would continue to support the Maldives in important initiatives in the health sector.
The Health Ministry has plans to further develop MIHIS. In future, the portal will be further enhanced to store health information on pregnant women, and eventually, every Maldivian citizen. The portal will also provide information collected from the primary health care system in the future, according to the Ministry.