Thanks for the good discussion around the benefits and challenges of a MFL. The title of this thread also mentions other health information registries, and I’m curious what the experience has been in establishing:
–master client registry, linked with EMRs, civil registries, etc. for unique identifier
–master provider registry (linked to an HR MIS) that includes both public and private providers and based on provider type and licensing status
–master commodity registry linked to the EML, the national medicines regulatory authority, and pharmaceutical distributors (private and public).
A second question is related to program registries, especially vertical programs like family planning, immunization, malaria elimination, HIV and TB. Many of these programs are converting their paper registries into digital systems, essentially replicating paper registries in digital form without thinking through continuity of care or a client-centered approach. Do we need a central programs registry, or can well-design EMRs and a data warehouse replace them and, through interoperability, achieve the continuity of care and higher level data visibility across programs that we would like to achieve?
