The Pacific Health Information Support Hub (PHISH) provides country-responsive technical expertise and support for health information system strengthening in a range of areas, including information and data standards, health classifications, disease registries, statistical analysis, epidemiology and demography, information development, data management, communication, and public administration.

PHISH works closely with partner country Ministries of Health and with regional partners including:

PHISH is also actively engaged with educational partners like Fiji National University and existing regional networks including the Pacific Health Information Network (PHIN) and the Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Network.

PHISH is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region (PHR) Initiative.

What do we do?

PHISH provides advice and technical assistance to Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTS) and other regional partners to support health information and data strengthening. PHISH is currently funded to deliver support to five countries: Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. In addition, PHISH’s work program includes supporting SPC and PHIN to deliver regional health information system strengthening.

System strengthening and data management cycle support

A key area of support delivered by PHISH is technical advice on health classifications, clinical coding, health data standards, system and data interoperability, and support for strengthening operational practices for each phase of the data management cycle. PHISH can provide expert insight into policies, processes, and practices that support vital health information accessibility and quality improvement. PHISH can also connect you with other experts and partners working within the region and the broader health data sector.

Mentoring and capacity building

Supporting regional capability improvement and capacity building underpins all PHISH’s work. PHISH provides advice and support to members of the PHIN Board, is a technical supporting partner for volunteer health information managers working within partner countries through the Australia Volunteers International (AVI) program and seeks every opportunity to support in-country fellowships of partner countries to Australia.

Supporting gender equity in health information

PHISH works closely with other partners within the Pacific to improve gender equity within national health data assets – through gendered data analysis support and advice, and within the leadership of the broader health information system – through one-on-one mentoring of Pacific women working within the sector.

Pacific Health Information Data Managers Toolkit

The Pacific Health Information Data Managers Toolkit (DMTK) is a series of introductory educational modules and resources that cover a range of topics. The DMTK leverages the wide breadth of the AIHW’s unique expertise to deliver accessible and Pacific-relevant information, templates, and tools to support health information system strengthening and capacity building across the region.

How to connect with us

If you are interested in accessing PHISH support, or collaborating with us to support the region, please reach out and connect with us.