The UDSM DHIS2 lab of the University of Dar es Salaam experts in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering has been collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and stakeholders to strengthen the health system in Tanzania. As the technical arm of the MOH, UDSM DHIS2 Lab developed iCareConnect+, a web based system for dispensaries, health centres, and hospitals to track patient journeys. The UDSM DHIS2 lab provides technical support on the implementation of the national Health Management Information System (HMIS) and participation in multiple initiatives related to electronic medical record systems (EMR) implementation championed by the MOH. During their involvement in these initiatives, our experts experienced several challenges from the current EMR systems, such as a lack of integration, design & usability limitations, and fragmentation of source code, databases, and metadata. These challenges motivated our experts to start an initiative to build an enhanced EMR system called the iCareConnect+ system based on a flexible and modular design to address the identified challenges. The system has been deployed and used at the UDSM Hospital, which is the first iCareConnect+ system pilot site. iCareConnect+ offers the following benefits that are limited by other EMRs: Developed on top of openMRS, it avoids dependency on other Bahmi layers for direct access to updated features; offers quick access to digital data; offers interoperability with HMIS, eRITA, GePG, and NHIF. The Laboratory Information System with machine integration is used in the National Public Health Laboratory, providing all the electronic laboratory processes required to aid the day-to-day functioning of the National Lab.
