Pacific Health Information Network Meeting, Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji, 29 September to 2 October 2009.

In September 2009, the Pacific Health Information Network (or PHIN as it is commonly known) held a meeting and training event in Nadi, Fiji, facilitated by the Health Information Systems (HIS) Knowledge Hub at the University of Queensland. The meeting was attended by representatives from 12 Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia. Key representatives from the Fiji School of Medicine, the World Health Organization, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and AusAID also attended. The meeting opened with a series of very informative health information systems presentations from each of the participating Pacific Island Countries. Each presentation was structured around the six components of the Health Metrics Network’s (HMN) Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systems1. A number of countries also presented on the status of the use of technology in their health ministry. The PHIN meeting was fortunate to have a team from Fiji School of Medicine attend to give an informative clinical update session on diabetes mellitus and the integrated management of childhood illnesses in the Pacific. This brought up many questions regarding the need for good health research in the region and the relative need for quality and complete health data sources. Following presentations made by Professor Ian Rouse, Dean of Fiji School of Medicine and Mr Baxendale, from WHO’s Pacific Open Learning Health Net, there was an opportunity to discuss regional training needs for HIS development. The training of qualified health information human resources was continually raised as a key issue. The conversation initially focused purely on the clear need for ICD-10 training; however, it broadened as participants started to think more strategically across their daily responsibilities. It was felt that HIS staff needed to have their