Evaluation of the interoperability of health surveillance systems in Cameroon

Interoperability in health refers to the ability of two or more health information systems or components to exchange information on the basis of standards, and to use the information thus exchanged. The aim of this study was to assess the level of maturity of interoperability between the entities that produce health information within the framework of the "One Health" approach. The methodology adopted consisted in carrying out a cross-sectional descriptive study from March to October 2020. The study was conducted in the key departments in charge of epidemiological surveillance in the Ministries of Human Health, Animal Health and Environmental Health. The Health Information Systems Interoperability Maturity Toolkit was used to determine the level of maturity of the interoperability of health information systems across the areas of leadership and governance, human resources and information and communication technologies. Gephi software was used to assess data sharing between surveillance networks. The results of the study reveal the existence of a national health surveillance system in two sectors (human health and animal health). The actors of these systems share data among themselves, but also with other networks such as laboratories and the national observatory on climate change. The field of leadership and governance is emerging in Cameroon, with a maturity level of interoperability equal to 2/5. The field of human resources is infancy, with a level of maturity equal to 1/5. The field of information and communication technologies is infancy, with a level of maturity equal to 1/5. In general, interoperability is therefore at its beginnings in Cameroon. In view of these results, the definition of a legal framework for data sharing and interoperability of health information systems by the Cameroonian government and the ministries concerned is crucial, as well as the training of personnel and the allocation of the necessary resources, in order to promote decision-making oriented in the joint fight against diseases within the framework of the "One Health" approach.