This community innovation has been accepted at the 2025 DHIS2 Annual Conference
Case-Based Malaria Surveillance with FHIR in DHIS2
Kenya has a diverse malaria ecology with a vast low transmission area (prevalence< 1%) requiring case-based strategies. The Kenya Malaria Strategy 2023-2027 seeks to interrupt indigenous malaria transmission in four very low transmission counties. A case-based surveillance system enables malaria case tracking to inform targeted interventions to interrupt transmission. To strengthen interoperability, the Country Health Information Systems and Data Use (CHISU) program is developing a DHIS2 app that converts Tracker data into Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). This innovative approach enables case-level data to seamlessly integrate with external health information systems, facilitating faster outbreak detection and more effective decision-making. The app features a dynamic mapping interface that enables program administrators to align DHIS2 attributes and data elements with FHIR resource profiles, ensuring consistent and globally recognized data structures. Once implemented, the app will automatically generate FHIR bundles, which can be shared with various digital platforms for analytics and enhanced surveillance workflows. Currently in development, the app will undergo iterative testing in health facilities in April 2025. Testing will validate the mapping functionality, assess system performance, and gather user feedback to optimize the interface and data conversion processes. Expected outcomes include improved data standardization, reduced manual data entry, and enhanced system interoperability. Kenya aims to standardize malaria case reporting and harmonize data exchange at community and facility levels. This solution is designed to scale across additional counties, supporting broader case-based surveillance initiatives. Overall, this integration of DHIS2 and FHIR showcases how aligning national health systems with global data standards can streamline disease surveillance, strengthen evidence-based interventions, and serve as a replicable model for other regions tackling similar public health challenges.
Primary Author: Stephen Osewe
Keywords:
Malaria, DHIS2, FHIR, Interoperability, Case-Based Surveillance, Digital Health, Kenya, Data Exchange
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This is a quite interesting implementation. Looking forward to hear more about it 
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