Master in Health Informatics

Master in Health Informatics

Fee (Tentative)NPR 420,000

The usage of Information and Communication Technologies has considerably fueled recent worldwide breakthroughs (ICTs). ICTs have the ability to alter practically every aspect of health care systems. ICTs are the driving forces underlying Health Information Systems (HISs). HISs are the primary sources of health data that can be evaluated to provide evidence. Health planners and decision-makers require a variety of information, including health determinants, inputs to the health system and related processes, health system performance or outputs, health outcomes, health disparities, and so on. HISs can ensure the collection, analysis, dissemination, and use of health data. In order to improve the quality of health care, the evidence produced by HISs can be used in health decision-making, the introduction of rapid health intervention programs, health planning, or policy formulation. The end result is improved health for individuals, groups of people, and the entire country.

One of the primary areas that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) want to address by 2030 is health. Goal 3 of the SDGs states that the goal is "to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages." One of the prerequisites for progress is good health. Access to the greatest standard of healthcare is a basic human right for all people. HISs can play a critical role in ensuring the diffusion of quality health services, which could be critical in reaching development goals.

Kathmandu University is introducing a Master's degree program in Health Informatics for the first time in Nepal in recognition of the significance of HISs. The goal of health informatics, an interdisciplinary approach to health science and ICT, is to provide methods and procedures for gathering, processing, and analyzing health data derived from various sources. This program is thought to play a key role in enhancing HIS users' abilities to use various HISs, carry out HIS development tasks, engage in health research and innovation, and finally make HISs long-term sustainable.

Salient Features

  1. The program is intended to develop an interdisciplinary approach to health informatics by building synergies between the area of Health Science and Information and Communication Technologies.
  2. Integrate knowledge, principles, practices, and activities of Information System development and management with the knowledge, principles, and activities of health science.
  3. To foster an understanding of theoretical and empirical bases of Health Informatics as a discipline.
  4. Prepare equipped professionals who can develop, manage and lead Health Information Systems and become able to provide leadership and adapt to change in the areas of health science.
  5. Develop knowledge of the application of ICT in health science such as telemedicine services, mobile application development, health data warehouse, etc

Prospective Students

The Master's degree program in Health Informatics is an interdisciplinary approach to Health Science, Data Science, and Information and Communication Technologies. Students from diverse areas/disciplines with a keen interest in the design, development, and analysis of health information systems can fit into this program.

The prospective students include medical and paramedical professionals including Medical Doctors, Public Health Workers, Nurses, Medical lab Technicians, Pharmacists, IT Professionals, Mathematicians, Statisticians, and enthusiasts from the basic science disciplines who are interested in health data analytics and innovation in the health sector.

Research lab

The master's degree program in Health Informatics will be equipped with an advanced Interoperability Lab for health information systems. The lab will include aggregate health data reporting systems, electronic medical record systems, insurance and logistics management systems, and other relevant information systems.

Eligibility

Candidates with score of at least 50% in aggregate or CGPA 2.0 out of 4.0 grading system from any recognized institution, and

  • Undergraduate degree in Engineering/Science and Technology/Computer Application/ Medical Sciences/ Nursing, or
  • With a total of at least 16 years of education with a science background, or
  • M.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, or any other related field are considered eligible for admission to the master's degree program in Health Informatics.

Admission Criteria

Scholarships and assistantships will be available for deserving students.

Job Prospects

Graduates of the Master's degree will have a comprehensive understanding of health information systems and digitalization in the health sector. Students will be taught the skills needed to lead interdisciplinary teams in the creation, implementation, and change processes of digital health systems. Graduates will have significant knowledge and skills required for HIS creation, data analysis, policy formulation, and health intervention program implementation. The scope of the program will spread over multiple sectors.

  • Information Officers, Data Analyst, Strategy Planner, and Policy makers in the Health Ministry and other public organizations working in health sectors.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Officers at International Organizations working in the health sectors.
  • Researchers in academic institutions and health organizations.
  • Data analyst in the hospitals and health facilities.
  • System Architect and Application Developers for Health Information Systems.

Curricular Structure

First Semester Mandatory Course Mandatory Course Mandatory Course Elective Course  
Second Semester Mandatory Course Mandatory Course Mandatory Course Elective Course Elective Course
Third Semester Mandatory Course Mandatory Course Elective Course Project Work  
Fourth Semester Thesis Work

The total credit for this master's degree is 48. Each Mandatory courses, Elective courses, and Project work account for 3 credits while the Thesis work accounts for 9 credits.

Core Courses

HIMS 500 Foundations of Health Information Systems
HIMS 501 The spectrum of Digital Health
HIMS 502 The architecture of Digital Health
HIMS 503 Health Care Data Analytics
HIMS 504 Population Informatics and GIS
HIMS 505 Telecare, Medical Signal, and Imaging
HIMS 506 Intelligence in Health Information Systems
HIMS 507 Principles of Health Data Standardization

Elective Courses

Group I
HIMS 510 Research Methods in Health Informatics
HIMS 515 Probability and Health Data Modeling
HIMS 516 Bioinformatics
HIMS 528 Basic Epidemiology and Health Statistics
HIMS 592 Health Informatics Seminar
HIMS 594 Health Informatics Workshop
Group II
HIMS 511 Policies, Legal Issues, and Ethics in Health Information System Implementation
HIMS 522 Organization and Management in Health Informatics
HIMS 525 Health Care Financing and Economics
HIMS 532 Information System
HIMS 527 Supply Chain Management
Group III
HIMS 508 Coding, Classification, and Standardization in Medicine
HIMS 512 Public Health System in Practice
HIMS 517 Clinical and Laboratory Information System
HIMS 524 Biomedicine for Informatics/ Personalized Medicine
HIMS 526 Health Informatics Project Management
Group IV
HIMS 509 Health Care Network and Data Security
HIMS 513 Mobile Application Development
HIMS 514 Tele-health/Telemedicine
HIMS 518 Basics of Programming Language
HIMS 519 Clinical Databases and Registries
HIMS 521 Wearable Devices and IoT
HIMS 523 Software Engineering
HIMS 529 Clinical Natural language Processing
HIMS 530 Data Science
HIMS 531 Database Management System