Djikanovic Bosiljka, Kovacevic Milan, Smigic Isidora, Cvejic Marija, Nicic Emilija, Madevu-Matson Caitlin, Ollis Steve, Curcin Vasa, Barry Alimou, Watson-Grant Stephanie
Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Subotica 8, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
Centre - School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Subotica 8, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
Health Res Policy Syst. 2025 Jul 14;23(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s12961-025-01337-5.
The Health Information System (HIS) in public healthcare services in Serbia was introduced in 2008, with the first comprehensive evaluation of its maturity conducted in 2021. Since then, several improvement initiatives have been implemented. This study aimed to assess the extent of HIS advancement between 2021 and 2024 and to identify both the desirable and realistic future maturity status.
The maturity assessment of the Serbian HIS in 2024 was conducted using the same tool as in 2021: The Health Information Systems Stages of Continuous Improvement (SOCI), enabling direct comparison between the two periods. Progress was measured across five domains: Leadership and Governance, Management and Workforce, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Standards and Interoperability, and Data Quality and Use. These domains covered 13 components and 39 single subcomponents, with their maturity stages being assessed on a 5-point Likert scale on the basis of the opinions of key informants and documented through a desk review. Higher scores indicate a higher level of development. Along with a current assessment of maturity, key informants identified desired maturity levels for the future, using the same scale. Data were presented as comparisons in total scores per domain in 2024 versus 2021, for both current and projected statuses.
Between 2021 and 2024, the overall maturity of the Serbian HIS improved by nearly 1 point (from 1.6/5 to 2.5/5). The same difference of 0.9 was observed between the current 2024 status and the future desired status (2.5 versus 3.4). The most notable improvements were observed in the HIS Strategic Plan under Leadership and Governance (2.5-point increase) and Business Continuity under ICT Infrastructure (2-point increase). The primary driver of progress over the past 3 years was the adoption of the national Program for Digitalization in the Health System of Serbia (eHealth Strategy) and its corresponding Action Plan, which served as a development blueprint.
Substantial progress in HIS maturity was achieved between 2021 and 2024, driven by strong governmental commitment, international donor support, and the engagement of dedicated national professionals. If current momentum and resourcing are sustained, the projected maturity levels are likely to be attainable in the near future.
塞尔维亚公共医疗服务中的健康信息系统（HIS）于2008年引入，2021年对其成熟度进行了首次全面评估。从那时起，已实施了多项改进举措。本研究旨在评估2021年至2024年期间HIS的进步程度，并确定未来理想和现实的成熟度状态。
2024年塞尔维亚HIS的成熟度评估使用了与2021年相同的工具：健康信息系统持续改进阶段（SOCI），从而能够对两个时期进行直接比较。在五个领域衡量进展：领导与治理、管理与劳动力、信息与通信技术（ICT）、标准与互操作性以及数据质量与使用。这些领域涵盖13个组件和39个单个子组件，根据关键信息提供者的意见，以5点李克特量表评估其成熟度阶段，并通过案头审查记录在案。分数越高表明发展水平越高。除了对当前成熟度进行评估外，关键信息提供者还使用相同的量表确定了未来所需的成熟度水平。数据以2024年与2021年各领域总分的比较形式呈现，包括当前状态和预测状态。
2021年至2024年期间，塞尔维亚HIS的整体成熟度提高了近1分（从1.6/5提高到2.5/5）。2024年当前状态与未来期望状态之间也观察到相同的0.9分差异（2.5对3.4）。在领导与治理下的HIS战略计划（提高2.5分）以及ICT基础设施下的业务连续性（提高2分）方面观察到最显著的改进。过去3年取得进展的主要推动因素是塞尔维亚卫生系统数字化国家计划（电子健康战略）及其相应行动计划的采用，该计划充当了发展蓝图。
在政府的坚定承诺、国际捐助者的支持以及敬业的国家专业人员的参与推动下，2021年至2024年期间HIS成熟度取得了实质性进展。如果保持当前的势头和资源投入，预计的成熟度水平在不久将来可能能够实现。
