HMIS of Directorate General of Medical Education – A powerful tool to oversee the medical education system of Bangladesh

Background

The Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), the newest entity under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, has not only focused on essential infrastructural development but also prioritized the creation of a comprehensive Health Management Information System (HMIS). This HMIS aims to closely monitor all medical education institutions and centers, both public and private, to ensure the delivery of quality medical education. The Better Health in Bangladesh (BHB) project of MSH helped DGME to build the system. The HMIS is now fully operational.

Status

• All public and private medical and dental institutions now utilize the HMIS.
• Individual records of all medical and dental students are tracked digitally.
• Application, processing, and admission of foreign students are entirely managed through the HMIS.
• Dashboard offers real-time data summaries.
• Regulatory system for medical education has been revolutionized by this HMIS.

Goal of the HMIS of DGME

The DGME aimed to establish a digital HMIS with interoperable systems for both public and private medical institutions, featuring data-friendly technologies and sustainable design architecture. The objectives were:

• Transition from a paper-based to a digital health information system.
• Develop necessary digital systems, infrastructure, and capacity.
• Enhance organizational capability for quick, effective data-driven decisions.
• Increase staff productivity and efficiency by optimizing work processes.
• Establish transparency and accountability.
• Eliminate data duplication, redundancy, and reduce human errors.
• Improve the overall quality of medical education.

The system is now fully operational, successfully achieving all these goals.