Improving Health Information Management Capacity with Digital Learning Platform: The Case of DHIS2 Online Academy

Health information systems (HIS) in developing countries constantly face human resource-related issues such as low capacity and high staff turn-over. When combined with high national demands, it is even more difficult to address with limited capacity building resources such as trainers and financing. This research aims to explore the potentials of digital learning tool as part of a national HIS capacity building strategy, drawing from a case from Indonesia. The country is adopting District Health Information Software (DHIS2) to integrate health data and to promote quality health information use. DHIS2 implementation will be expanded to 463 districts by 2022. As the consequence, the country needs efficient tools and strategies to build capacity to fulfill this need. A joint team consisting of MoH, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and University of Oslo (UiO) localized a global digital learning platform called DHIS2 Online Academy and successfully recruited 627 learners and graduated 150 learners. Although approximately half of the responding learners claimed to have no past online learning experience, nor DHIS2 experience, they reported that they found digital learning materials convenient for them to improve their competencies in DHIS2 implementation, in terms of time, cost, and learning style. DHIS2 Online Academy Indonesia allows wider delivery of DHIS2 learning materials to health workers, supporting HIS strengthening at district and facility level. This paper discusses potentials and challenges of localization of generic learning platform and its integration to national capacity building strategy, summarizes the key principles and the way forward