Need to strengthen data and Information systems during COVID-19

With the ever evolving pace of the pandemic, data and information systems are critical tools for monitoring the course of the pandemic and informed decision making. Throughout the year we have seen incidences where the healthcare system was strained due to delayed decision making in treatment modalities and policies. Deployment of a taskforce with a major goal of extraction and dissemination evidence based, data driven information to stakeholder and policy makers will be critical in dealing with the challenges faced. Innovative technological approaches to safeguard privacy and sharing information with global stakeholders is of utmost urgency. 

Here is an interesting read ' Information technology solutions, challenges and suggestions for tackling COVID-19'

//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7724285/

Data sharing is important for the scientific progress but there are certain challenges associated with existing data sharing such as data decentralization, inconsistencies, security and legal issues, limited financial support, international communications, standardization, and globalization. In this article, integrated platforms models (i.e., the National Platform Registry, Global Platform Registry, and Global Special Networks) are proposed for national and international data sharing and management which could facilitate data -driven, evidence based COVID-19 research globally  

Read here

//www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/bio.2020.0134?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

Information systems and information technology (IS/IT) play an important role in healthcare, clinical decision support, emergency/crisis response, and risk management and the Softwares or EHealth Systems which are already in use in various Hospital settings need to updated to support and strengthen the upcoming new statics on a regular basis for betterment of patient care. Along with strengthening the existing systems which are of dire importance now, We also need to consider Public Health and related systems associated with it. With each new implementation, unforeseen events and probabilities emerge, which must also be considered.

The covid-19 all around the globe has created critical need to strengthen data and information systems. Why? Because if the data is reliable, accurate, credible and information system is well managed and integrated, we can overcome the gaps in it. The barriers are standardization of data, lack of integration between the systems and lack of skilled healthcare workers. These problems have existed since many years but emergence of covid-19 pandemic has provoked and highlighted the limitations of the healthcare system especially in developing countries such as India. 

For the health workers to work better against the pandemic, availability of timely accurate data and effective information system is required. Hence countries should invest more in healthcare information system which will help in gaining data for the current and upcoming future diseases and pandemics. It will further help in overcome pandemics such as covid-19 in a quicker and a better way

reference - Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Hans Henri P Kluge, Samira Asma, David Novillo-Ortiz, A call to strengthen data in response to COVID-19 and beyond, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Volume 28, Issue 3, March 2021

The data transperancy is needed.

While attending the two meeting at different level presented the different data are as.........

1-Covid Vaccination Review meeting chaired by Commissner participant 5 district district magistrate, AD, CMO and other official presented the percentage of vaccination coverage as well as active vaccination centre number is different data prepared by DivisonalProgram manager and Divisional Monitoring and evaluation officer under report of Vaccination Coverage Report (VCR) via using AD login for complete division.

2- Covid Vaccination Review meeting chaired by district magistrate for there particular district found the different data day wise coverage via using District immunization officer login participant CMO,ACMO, 16 medical officer, Servillance medical Officer.

@ Data Information System,@ArtificialIntelligence

During a pandemic,  information systems play a critical role in managing data and other information at the speed the situation requires. They provide essential evidence for taking action, making the most informed decisions possible, and adjusting policies to allow for better intelligence on actions to improve health.

Source- //iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/52127

Data transparency is very much the need of the hour; be it in terms of public learning the true numbers or accountability of a government. 

This is something that has been talked about a lot during the pandemic, with people always doubting the number of positive cases put out by the government. In most ways, the people are doubtful and are not ready to take the Governments word on the daily trends of Covid - 19 in their respective geographical location. With a number of elections this year, the opposition parties calling the government out and saying the numbers are wrong has just added fuel to the fire. 

Another recent incident that caused outrage, was media ALLEGATIONS that the Punjab state government had been selling the vaccines to private establishments in hope of a profit. The public feel a sense of distrust with such incidents. 

//m.economictimes.com/news/india/centre-seeks-explanation-from-punjab-government-over-allegations-of-selling-covid-vaccine-to-private-hospitals/articleshow/83239224.cms