The health administration in any area is primarily concerned with the assessment of health indicators, the readiness to take preventive and mitigative actions, and the expertise to plan and augment facilities and provisions as per requirement. The process is inherently one with a considerable spatial character, comprehending which is mostly improper in the absence of an efficient support system with adequate analysis and visualization capabilities. Geographical Information System (GIS) with its spatial analysis capabilities and enhanced mapping tools provides this crucial support for effective health administration. Prudent use of GIS in planning the infrastructure and utilities would also help to ensure spatial justice to the beneficiaries and equity to the vulnerable sections.

Benefits of GIS for Health Sector Prompt  & more informed decision making Easier analysis of different variables, using large amounts of  data Identifying linkages between diseases and various factors which might be hardly noticeable Efficient allocation and optimum utilization of resources

GIS for Health Infrastructure Planning & Evaluation

Analyzing the distribution and characteristics of the catchment’s population in relation to the existing health infrastructure gives more insight into the sufficiency and accessibility of the health facilities in an area.

GIS for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control

• Determining geographic distribution of diseases
• Analysing spatial and temporal trends
• Mapping populations at risk
• Stratifying risk factors
• Assessing resource allocation
• Planning and targeting interventions
• Monitoring diseases and interventions over time

GIS for Studying Health Trends

• Understanding many cause-effect relationships and consequently in effectively controlling the diseases.  
• Analyzing the environmental changes due to new industries or other developmental activities can throw more light in to the causes of changes in the health trends of the region.

GIS For Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluating Health Programs

The activities that compose an efficient health service delivery includes the identification of program beneficiaries, the location and context of these beneficiaries, their socio economic status, the facilities that they currently have access to, the area to which the service of any specific health facility extends and consequently the areas that are not having effective access to such services, the status of existing ground staff and infrastructure and their efficacy, the status of health supplies like medicines etc. In the absence of a comprehensive understanding of all these variables, planning for interventions often end up not attaining the optimum results. GIS with its capabilities of mapping, integration of spatial and non-spatial data, and analysis, therefore, becomes an essential companion for health administration.

National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)

Government of India has launched the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in order to effectively address health concerns of the urban poor especially those living in the urban slums.  NUHM recognizes the inaccessibility of the health care facilities in the urban areas due to the following reasons; overcrowding of patients, ineffective in outreach and referral system and lack of standard and norms for urban health care delivery system, social exclusion, lack of information and assistance to access the modern health care facilities and lack of economic resources

GIS Based Health Management Information System for NUHM

Ecosmart proposes to develop a comprehensive Health Management Information System (HMIS), the features of which are described below.

• Location of PHCs, Sub Centres & other Government Hospitals
• Analysis for Service adequacy, dark zones etc.
• Incidence of each disease
• Analysis for Usage pattern, service efficacy.
• Distribution of Vital Rates
• Disease Surveillance over geography, and across various diseases
• Real time tracking of Epidemic Development, Health Inventory, Responsiveness
• Developing Trends of Diseases, Geographic patterns
• Real time Capacity utilization Status of Health Inventory for better management of Disasters and epidemics.
• Real time Stock Status of Medical Equipment and Consumables for optimal health service management
• Status monitoring of Preventive Actions, Field inspections etc.
• Spatial Visualization of Disease Concentration, Mapping of Health Indicators
• Spatial Distribution of Health Centers

Envisaged Benefits of HMIS

• Better management of public health care services
• Automated reporting and monitoring, reducing ‘red tapes’
• Better identification  and tracking of beneficiaries
• More informed decision making
• Improved coordination with private service providers as well as donor agencies, NGOs etc.
• Optimum utilization of available health infrastructure

In context with the project IL&FS is proactive and way ahead by disseminating mapping component of NUHM for  Rajasthan, 5 cities viz. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer and Bikaner Has been covered as part of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and health facility survey as per the Government of Rajasthan recommendation

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

The National Rural Health Mission (2005-12) seeks to provide effective healthcare to rural population throughout the country with special focus on 18 states, which have weak public health indicators and/or weak infrastructure. It aims to undertake architectural correction of the health system to enable it to effectively handle increased allocations as promised under the National Common Minimum Programme and promote policies that strengthen public health management and service delivery in the country. It also aims at effective integration of health concerns with determinants of health like sanitation & hygiene, nutrition, and safe drinking water through a District Plan for Health.

GIS for Health Re-districting

For the effective utilization of health infrastructure, facilities like Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Sub-Centres (SC) are formed in various states with their specific jurisdictions. These jurisdictions have to be revised periodically, taking in to consideration the changes in demography, socio-economy and health trends of the region. The spatial analysis capabilities of GIS make it an extremely handy tool for the Health Officers to perform re-districting. IL&FS Ecosmart Ltd, with its understanding of the health sector and expertise in GIS can successfully meet such requirements of the health sector in various states.

IL&FS Ecosmart Ltd Offers following Services in Health Sector

• Planning & Mapping
• Program Management
• Capacity Building, Training & Orientation
• PPP
• Monitoring & Evaluation (including ITES)
• Operational Programme Management
• Operationalizing District Planning
• Health Management and Information system
• Biomedical waste management
• Master planning of Medicity using GIS

IL&FS also have the capability to develop health facilities, telemedicine infrastructure and solutions etc on PPP formats and can offer a comprehensive plan for the enhancement of health sector in the country.