A National Health Client Registry in Tanzania

A National Health Client Registry in Tanzania

Health service delivery data in Tanzania have tended to be disease- and health program-centric rather than client-centric. Patient information is stored in independent paper-based or electronic systems without a way to connect them or to locate one patient among multiple records. This makes it hard to ensure accurate client tracking and effective, seamless care, as well as to deliver data on HIV prevention and control. The Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MOHCDGEC) recognizes the potential of information technology to transform health service delivery, including operations, management, and decision making. As part of this work, the Technical Support Services Project (TSSP) is supporting the MOHCDGEC and the President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government to develop, implement, roll out, and manage a national client registry. A health client registry (CR) is a digital service, available throughout the health system, which gives each client—meaning each patient—a unique identifier. Client identification will include a health sector ID; other identification, such as a national ID number; and other identifying information, such as name, date of birth, address, mobile phone number, or biometrics.