IntroductionRoutine Health Information Systems (RHIS) are increasingly transitioning to electronic platforms in several developing countries. Establishment of a Master Facility List (MFL) to standardize the allocation of unique identifiers for health facilities can overcome identification issues and support health facility management. The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) recently developed a MFL, and we present the process and outcome.MethodsThe MFL was developed from the ground up, and includes a state code, a local government area (LGA) code, health facility ownership (public or private), the level of care, and an exclusive LGA level health facility serial number, as part of the unique identifier system in Nigeria. To develop the MFL, the LGAs sent the list of all health facilities in their jurisdiction to the state, which in turn collated for all LGAs under them before sending to the FMOH. At the FMOH, a group of RHIS experts verified the list and identifiers for each state.ResultsThe national MFL consists of 34,423 health facilities uniquely identified. The list has been published and is available for worldwide access; it is currently used for planning and management of health services in Nigeria.DiscussionUnique identifiers are a basic component of any information system. However, poor planning and execution of implementing this key standard can diminish the success of the RHIS.ConclusionDevelopment and adherence to standards is the hallmark for a national health information infrastructure. Explicit processes and multi-level stakeholder engagement is necessary to ensuring the success of the effort.

Background Nigeria's national health information system (HIS) data sources are grouped into institutional and population based data that traverse many government institutions. Communication and collaboration between these institutions are limited, fraught with fragmentation and challenges national HIS functionality. Objectives The objective of this paper was to share insights from and the implications of a recent review of Nigeria's HIS policy in 2014 that resulted in its substantial revision. We also highlight some subsequent enactments. Review process and outcomes In 2013, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health launched an inter‐ministerial and multi‐departmental review of the National Health Management Information System policy of 2006. The review was guided by World Health Organization's ‘Framework and Standards for Country Health Information Systems’. The key finding was a lack of governance mechanisms in the execution of the policy, including an absent data management governance process. The review also found a multiplicity of duplicative, parallel reporting tools and platforms. Conclusion Recommendations for HIS Policy revisions were proposed to and implemented by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The revised HIS policy now provides for a strong framework for the leadership and governance of the HIS with early results.

Background: Master facility lists (MFL) maintain an important standard (unique identifier) in country health information systems that will aid integration and interoperability of multiple health facility based data sources. However, this standard is not readily available in several low and middle income countries where reliable data is most needed for efficient planning. The World Health Organization in 2012 drew up guidelines for the creation of MFLs in countries but this guideline still requires domestication and process modeling for each country adopting it. Nigeria in 2013 published a paper-based MFL directory which it hopes to migrate to an electronic MFL registry for use across the country. Objective: To identify the use cases of importance in the development of an electronic health facility registry to manage the MFL compiled in Nigeria. Methods: Potential use cases for the health facility registry were identified through consultations with key informants at the Federal Ministry of Health. These will serve as input into an electronic MFL registry development effort. Results: The use cases identified include: new health facility is created, update of status of health facility, close-out, relocation, new information available, delete and management of multi-branch health facility. Conclusion: Development of an application for the management of MFLs requires proper architectural analysis of the manifestations that can befall a health facility through its lifecycle. A MFL electronic registry will be invaluable to manage health facility data and will aid the integration and interoperability of health facility information systems.