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Nominee Information

Institutional Information
Member State Mauritius
Institution Name Mauritius Institute of Health
Institution Type Public Agency
Administrative Level National
Name of initiative Virtual Health Library Mauritius
Projects Operational Years 4
Website of Institution http://mih.govmu.org, http://www.vhlm.org

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Making institutions inclusive and ensuring participation in decision-making
UNPSACriteria
2017.2.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region Enhance the formal and informal participation of all individuals and groups in public decision-making processes or policies, approaches and measures related to public services and other aspects impacting on their lives. Institutionalize and/or strengthen participatory decision-making and consultation processes at the national and local level
2017.2.2 Strengthen the capacity of national or local governments and public institutions responsible for overseeing or delivering public services to engage people in preparing and implementing decisions, especially the poor and vulnerable people
2017.2.3 Promote a professional, merit based and well equipped civil service to ensure continuous and consistent institutional performance for an effective public services delivery
2017.2.6 Implements new processes and institutional mechanisms to channel the demands and views of people and enables governments – policy makers and public officials – to better interact with the public, particularly individual people, and allows people, for instance, to better express their needs, participate in and influence policy-making; comment on policy implementation; provide feedback on government services (on and off-line services); and file complaints.
2017.2.7 Clearly supports inclusion, participation and engagement of all people, irrespective of sex, age, race or ethnicity, including through focusing on specific groups of the population and especially those in vulnerable situations, so that after the effective implementation of the initiative, all or some of these groups can participate more fully in society and in decision-making.
2017.2.9 Enhances responsiveness of government to the demands and needs of citizens and ensures the inclusion of the views of concerned sections of the community in public affairs.

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 3: Good Health
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
3.b Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all
3.c Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States
3.d Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 31 Aug 1994

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? Yes
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
World Health Organization
Please provide details To some extent, WHO has enabled the Mauritius Institute of Health to get access to Hinari which is one of the database providing access to health and medical information databases

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? Through a circular letter sent to our parent ministry - Ministry of Health Quality of Life, by the Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Making institutions inclusive and ensuring participation in decision-making
UNPSACriteria
2017.2.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region Enhance the formal and informal participation of all individuals and groups in public decision-making processes or policies, approaches and measures related to public services and other aspects impacting on their lives. Institutionalize and/or strengthen participatory decision-making and consultation processes at the national and local level
2017.2.2 Strengthen the capacity of national or local governments and public institutions responsible for overseeing or delivering public services to engage people in preparing and implementing decisions, especially the poor and vulnerable people
2017.2.3 Promote a professional, merit based and well equipped civil service to ensure continuous and consistent institutional performance for an effective public services delivery
2017.2.6 Implements new processes and institutional mechanisms to channel the demands and views of people and enables governments – policy makers and public officials – to better interact with the public, particularly individual people, and allows people, for instance, to better express their needs, participate in and influence policy-making; comment on policy implementation; provide feedback on government services (on and off-line services); and file complaints.
2017.2.7 Clearly supports inclusion, participation and engagement of all people, irrespective of sex, age, race or ethnicity, including through focusing on specific groups of the population and especially those in vulnerable situations, so that after the effective implementation of the initiative, all or some of these groups can participate more fully in society and in decision-making.
2017.2.9 Enhances responsiveness of government to the demands and needs of citizens and ensures the inclusion of the views of concerned sections of the community in public affairs.

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 3: Good Health
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
3.b Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all
3.c Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States
3.d Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 31 Aug 1994

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? Yes
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
World Health Organization
Please provide details To some extent, WHO has enabled the Mauritius Institute of Health to get access to Hinari which is one of the database providing access to health and medical information databases

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? Through a circular letter sent to our parent ministry - Ministry of Health Quality of Life, by the Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative

Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Making institutions inclusive and ensuring participation in decision-making
UNPSACriteria
2017.2.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region Enhance the formal and informal participation of all individuals and groups in public decision-making processes or policies, approaches and measures related to public services and other aspects impacting on their lives. Institutionalize and/or strengthen participatory decision-making and consultation processes at the national and local level
2017.2.2 Strengthen the capacity of national or local governments and public institutions responsible for overseeing or delivering public services to engage people in preparing and implementing decisions, especially the poor and vulnerable people
2017.2.3 Promote a professional, merit based and well equipped civil service to ensure continuous and consistent institutional performance for an effective public services delivery
2017.2.6 Implements new processes and institutional mechanisms to channel the demands and views of people and enables governments – policy makers and public officials – to better interact with the public, particularly individual people, and allows people, for instance, to better express their needs, participate in and influence policy-making; comment on policy implementation; provide feedback on government services (on and off-line services); and file complaints.
2017.2.7 Clearly supports inclusion, participation and engagement of all people, irrespective of sex, age, race or ethnicity, including through focusing on specific groups of the population and especially those in vulnerable situations, so that after the effective implementation of the initiative, all or some of these groups can participate more fully in society and in decision-making.
2017.2.9 Enhances responsiveness of government to the demands and needs of citizens and ensures the inclusion of the views of concerned sections of the community in public affairs.

Question 3: Implementation Date

Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 31 Aug 1994

Question 4: Partners/Stakeholders

Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? Yes
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
World Health Organization
Please provide details To some extent, WHO has enabled the Mauritius Institute of Health to get access to Hinari which is one of the database providing access to health and medical information databases

Question 5: Required Supplemental Documents

Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 6: UNPSA Awards

Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 7: Other Awards

Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 8: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 3: Good Health
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol
3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
3.b Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all
3.c Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States
3.d Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university
4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed

Question 9: Validation Consent

Do you have any objections to us inquiring about the initiative for validation purposes? No

How did you know about UNPSA?

How did you know about UNPSA? Through a circular letter sent to our parent ministry - Ministry of Health Quality of Life, by the Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms

Nomination form

Questions/Answers

Question 1

Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
In the context of Continuous Professional Development of the medical and health of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life (MOH), the Virtual Health Library project was initiated in November 2013. This project aims at providing online access to health information to healthcare professionals. The Mauritius Institute of Health has set up the Virtual Health Library by mid-2014. It serves: - to enhance the access to up-to-date health information by organizing and delivering comprehensive health information resources, - to increase the cost-effectiveness of the delivery of health information throughout Mauritius and - to demonstrate the efficiency of innovative approaches to delivery of health information. An online registration of medical staff was initiated in order to compile a database of potential users of the virtual library. Internet connectivity at the MIH was also upgraded and the MIH was connected to the Fibre optic network. By February 2014, 26 PCs and 12 printers had been acquired for placement in the 12 identified access points, including Rodrigues By July 2014, the portal was put on test and in August 2014, presented Headquarters of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life. This was followed by training sessions at the 5 Regional Hospitals aimed at informing users about the project, its purposes and how to use it. The Phase 2 of this project aims at extending of this service to the nurses, paramedical staff and other departments in the public health sector. To date, 2700 users including doctors and paramedical staff have been registered. It is planned to extend services to private healthcare professionals in the near future. The following databases are accessible on VHLM: 1. HINARI 2. EBSCO 3. Emerald Insight 4. Health Digital Library Mauritius 5. Research Methods Library of Alexandria
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
Our world has been drastically transformed by digital technology, enabling radical changes to several processes that dramatically improve efficiency and effectiveness. The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in healthcare includes a variety of electronic methods that are used to manage information, data, and knowledge for communication and decision making. In addition, electronic access to health information provides immediate access to updated resources without any physical boundaries. The virtual health library provides a platform where several databases and born-digital local reports, research studies, statistics and other documents in different areas of concerns are hosted. It serves: - to enhance the access to up-to-date health information by organizing and delivering comprehensive health information resources, - to increase the cost-effectiveness of the delivery of health information throughout Mauritius and - to demonstrate the efficiency of innovative approaches to delivery of health information.
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
Universal access to high quality, timely, reliable and valid health information plays an important role for continuing professional development in today’s world. Research evidence shows that the availability of health information and professionally led library services has a positive impact on health outcomes for patients, such as reduced error rates and improved patient safety and can lead to time savings for health professionals. Healthcare providers need the most accurate and current information to help determine the appropriate care and treat patients effectively. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made universal access to information for health professionals a prerequisite for meeting the Millennium Development Goals and achieving Health for All. .

Question 2

The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
The VHLM task force would support and enable the health service points to respond rapidly to health professional needs for high-quality information. VHLM filled the gap for health care professionals who currently had no access to information resources and services, regardless of jurisdiction or geographic location. The VHLM addressed many of the problems that health professionals experience today gaining access to the best quality, most relevant and current information and evidence to support decisions at the point of need.

Question 3

The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
At present, there is no information sharing system in the health sector in Mauritius. The only health information agencies that exist are found at the MIH, MOH and WHO which are not within the reach of health professionals. Most of the health documentation are found scattered in different departments and are not easily available. With the advent of ICT and Internet, information could be shared and brought to the outreach. Therefore, the setting up of this Virtual Health Library in Mauritius is of utmost value that can be a solution to provide health professionals with access to information. This information sharing system, which will be available through the Internet will be a virtual resource centre where health documentation and other learning materials will be accessible.
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
There is a significant increase in the number of users accessing the Virtual Health Library of Mauritius from 22 doctors in January 2015 to 829 doctors in July 2015 and the users comprised of 57% registered medical officers, 32% specialists and 11% of pre-registered house officers. To date, 2700 users including doctors and paramedical staff have been registered.

Question 4

The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
The Virtual Health Library Mauritius is a first time project in Mauritius which has been implemented by the Mauritius to cater for the health information need and evidence based literature of health professionals in the public health sector and which will eventually be extended to the private health sector. This is an innovative project where to target the outreach with up to date information required at the point of care and also for decision making

Question 4b

b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
This innovation is a partially original piece of work since all access to several databases are centralized under one portal and authentication is required to allow users to get access. Furthermore, open source solution (Drupal) has been used for the development of the portal. Users are able to access the portal on a 24 hours by 7 days basis through Internet access either from work site or at home. The usage is being monitored through the use of google analytics.

Question 4c

c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
This is a low cost project initiative which was funded by the Ministry of Health Quality of Life (MOHQL) and implemented by the Mauritius Institute of Health (MIH). This project started as a pilot has now been integrated as a service to the health professionals of the public healt sector which is totally managed by the MIH and recurrent cost is supported by the MOHQL. As far as the technology is concerned, the MIH is responsible for development of the portal for which open source solutions have been used. In addition to the management and provision of this service, both the server and the portal are managed by the staff of MIH.

Question 5

The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
No
MIH is pioneer in the implementation of this project which initially was an initiative of having a Health Information Sharing System. During a Greenstone workshop by Unesco in Mauritius, an Information Sharing System was initiated to create a national centralize digital library which would be made available to professionals, student and so on. The project did not start. The Virtual Health Library Mauritius could be a very interesting example for other areas in the local context. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) recently contacted the MIH to look into how same could be implemented at their level. Technical exchanges between MIH and MOFED have already been organised for this purpose.

Question 6

The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
This is a sustainable project with limited financial resources but providing high quality information resources. The virtual library provide access to Hinari, Ebsco and Emerald; and other important health databases which are commonly being used and recommended in the medical field. As the Government intends to extend this service to the private sector, a sustainable plan could be devised in order to support the expansion of the services.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
Health Information for All should be ensured by the Government of any country and the project should further be enhanced and developed in order to meet the needs of health professionals in terms of health information. Furthermore, in order to meet quality health care delivery and continuing medical education, healthcare providers need to acquire and keep up to date with new development in medicine and related sciences. This project could also take a national dimension by providing the public with health information.

Question 7

The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
No

Question 8

The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
The main stakeholders in the project are the Mauritius Institute of Health (MIH) and the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life (MOHQL). This project was initiated and implemented by the MIH and funded by the MOHQL. The design and implementation were conducted MIH and the staff of the Documentation centre is responsible for the operations of this service. In addition, registration of users, maintenance of database, monitoring of the portal and analytics are carried out by MIH

Question 9

a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
There was a long awaiting information need among health professionals A database email of public health sector professional have been developed Canvassing should be carried out through the health services in both public and private health sector User education should be continued

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