Numerous organizations have integrated CommCare with their DHIS2 systems using an integration layer. This page provides a high-level overview of resources available to CommCare users interested in this integration.
Overview
District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) is an open-source, web-based health management information system (HMIS) platform. Today, DHIS2 is the world's largest HMIS platform. DHIS2 supports numerous programs primarily those in health system alongside the Ministry of Health (MoH).
When creating a digital health system, data pipelines are your key to accurate and fresh data. A well-built data pipeline enables you to capture trusted community-level information and aggregate it for routine reporting and ad-hoc analysis. CommCare seamlessly integrates frontline decision support with routine data capture, resulting in improved service delivery and more accurate data. The CommCare platform then integrates directly with DHIS2 to feed community-level health data into your reports.
CommCare and DHIS2 complement each other in a national digital health strategy. CommCare and DHIS2 are used worldwide to create end-to-end data pipelines, from remote data capture through district and national-scale reporting.
How does the DHIS2 Integration Work?
Dimagi maintain an an open-source integration layer for managing, integrating, and sharing data between digital systems. This tool is used to integrate CommCare with other systems such as DHIS2, OpenMRS, and custom solutions. I provides a robust framework to write new integration adapters between system, and provides infrastructure for authentication, logging, error-handling and managing connections to partially offline systems. Dimagi provides integrations services directly and through our integration partners to build integrations between CommCare and other data systems.
The DHIS2 module supports sending both aggregate data (datasets and data values) and individual data (events) to DHIS2. End users may map data collected in CommCare to DHIS2 events or datasets. This allows the system to be flexible to changes in both CommCare and DHIS2, and projects may modify the integration without requiring additional software development.
Deploying the integration layer can also help other systems integrate data with DHIS2 through the same approach, providing long-term value as an integration and orchestration layer for health systems in the country through the OpenHIE standards. CommCare can be used for community level data collection and supervision, and other systems such OpenMRS and OpenLMIS can be used to support clinical or stock data workflows. These systems can all use a central integration layer to share registry data, and submit information to DHIS2.
How do I set up my CommCare - DHIS2 Integration?
Below are some options for how you can integrate your DHIS2 instance with CommCare.
Option 1: Leverage CommCare’s APIs
Please note the documentation below requires more technical expertise The documentation below may require knowledge of more technical software management and development topics.
By leveraging CommCare HQ APIs , you can connect CommCare to DHIS2 directly.
Setting up this connection will likely require that you go through the process of mapping your DHIS2 data to CommCare. You can follow the instructions here: https://commcare-hq.readthedocs.io/value_source.html.
In addition, you can follow some of DHIS2’s integration information here: https://docs.dhis2.org/en/implement/implementing-dhis2/integration-concepts.html.
Need help doing this? Several CommCare Providers also provide services and experience in setting up DHIS2 integrations with CommCare. You can learn more about our Provider network here: CommCare Providers .
Option 2: Hire Dimagi’s Professional Services team
This offering requires professional services from Dimagi This is only available through direct support from Dimagi staff. Please reach out to info@dimagi.com for more information.
For bigger, more complex integrations, Dimagi’s team of Professional Services experts are available for hire to support setting up your integration. Dimagi has supported DHIS2 integrations with CommCare in Senegal, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Benin, Gambia, and Madagascar.
You can learn more about our services offerings here: https://dimagi.com/services/