Health Information Officers have successfully completed a specialized training program designed to modernize the death registration system and enhance the accuracy and timeliness of national mortality statistics. The weeklong Mortality Coding Training emphasized the use of the IRIS Application, an international automated tool that allows for the coding of multiple causes of death and the identification of the underlying cause on death certificates.
Developed by the Iris Institute and hosted by Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the IRIS system collaborates with several European countries to streamline mortality coding. Officials assert that precise mortality data is crucial for evidence-based health planning and resource allocation, especially given that non-communicable diseases account for over 70 percent of premature deaths in Fiji.
This training initiative is aligned with the Digital Health Strategy, which focuses on improving data quality, standardization, and enhancing ICD-10 coding alongside data validation skills. The emphasis on improving mortality statistics is a positive step toward better health outcomes and informed decision-making in public health management.
Leave a comment