HeRAMS (Health resources and services availability mapping system) is a standardized approach supported by a software-based platform that aims to strengthen the collection, collation and analysis of information on the availability of health resources and services in humanitarian emergencies.

HeRAMS was adapted for Syria in early 2013, after many consultative meetings with the Syrian Ministry of Health and health sector partners to customize the tool according to the priority identified areas of the health sector.

The key information that is assessed through HeRAMS includes the functionality status, accessibility, health infrastructure, human resources, availability of health services, equipment, medicines at primary and secondary care level.

HeRAMS Health centres assessment tool | Arabic

HeRAMS Hospitals assessment tool | Arabic

HeRAMS reports

Developing health centres and hospitals indices for Syria

Need

The impossibility of obtaining a comprehensive understanding of available health resources over affected areas and tracking its evolution overtime, necessitated the development of HeRAMS.

Objectives

HeRAMS is developed to provide timely, relevant, and reliable information about the available health resources, to decision-makers, in order to support them in:

• monitoring health situation at primary health care and secondary care levels
• measuring gaps and improving planning of resources
• ensuring evidence-based actions
• enhancing coordination and accountability.

Process and methodology

As part of the Ministry of Health's endorsement of HeRAMS, a team of ministry health staff from all governorates was created and officially approved by the Health Minister as an emergency cell for HeRAMS reporting.

New data collection mechanisms (i.e. tele-reporting/tele-assessment) were introduced to address the shortage of timely and relevant information. The flow of information and reporting channels have been streamlined at various levels of reporting from health facility level to health directorate and central level.

Periodicity of reporting is monthly for hospitals and quarterly for health centres. 90% of public health facilities have been assessed using HeRAMS.

HeRAMS is currently used to assess public health centres and hospitals, while it is planned to include the Ministry of Higher Education Hospitals, and nongovernmental organization-supported clinics, as well as selected private hospitals.

Data are verified rigorously with data collectors and cross-checked randomly with other sources at governorate level.

Currently, HeRAMS has been expanded to cover the hospitals Ministry of Higher Education.

The main challenges faced during data collection and reporting were accessibility and security, as well as continuous power cuts and lack of network coverage in many governorates.

HeRAMS products

• Statistical and analytical reports on the functionality status, accessibility, infrastructure patterns, availability of health resources, health services, medicines and equipment in hospitals and health centres, at governorates and district levels.
• Trend analysis on functionality status of health facilities.
• Comprehensive set of maps to visualize the produced analysis.