Documentation of the process, challenges, and lessons learned in the development and implementation of the PALS PLHIV-ART LINKAGE SYSTEM
Client Name: Voluntary Health Services – Centers for Disease Control
Location: Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Telangana
Background Context: The PLHIV-ART Linkage System (PALS) is a web-based, real-time, case-based information system for people living with HIV. It enables information capture for each individual, and data linkages across facilities, districts and states in India. Aggregated information at each level helps identify trends and monitor the epidemic. PALS was developed by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) with technical assistance from the President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and implementation partners including the Voluntary Health Services (VHS), FHI360, WHO and others
Objectives
This assignment was to develop a knowledge product on PALS for larger dissemination by documenting its key features and success stories and lessons learned. Development Solutions was commissioned to document the process, challenges and lessons on the development and implementation of PALS and to identify and document best practices, success stories and impact of PALS a review was done in three states – Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Telangana. The key objectives were:
- To document the process, challenges and lessons on the development and implementation of PALS
- To identify and document best practices, success stories and the impact of PALS.
- Situate PALS in the global context - to review global systems of HIV data management to understand the process in which PALS could benefit from such systems and simultaneously draw lessons or inform global practice.
Approach and Methodology
- Method/ Design: Interactions with the key stakeholders and desk review of documents including analysis of secondary data were undertaken. The details from the interactions, field observations, and desk review formed the basis for this document.
- Key Respondents/ Informants: NACO, US CDC, DGHT India, VHS- Chennai, state-level officials, District level officials / DAPCU and facility level stakeholders
- Key Areas of Inquiry: Data flow and management in PALS, roll-out of PALS, status of implementation of PALS, stakeholder perspectives on PALS, global efforts on health records for HIV, national efforts on HIV record keeping,
- Sample: 75
Impact
The report was developed and published as a best practices document, released by the NACO for integrated digital management of diagnosis and treatment of people living with HIV, in the health system.
Contact
17/109, Lower Ground Floor, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi – 110024