Leveraging ICTs for Effective COVID-19 Pandemics Management: Insights from a Health Information System Implementation in Cyprus

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant challenges on public health authorities, requiring them to handle a large influx of patients while also managing the vast amount of health information data generated by the crisis. Governments worldwide have made substantial investments in upgrading existing health information systems or developing new ones to effectively address these challenges. In this paper, we present the Health Information System (HIS) implemented in Cyprus for the management of the pandemic. We provide an overview of the systems and platforms that form the foundation of the HIS, enabling its functionalities. Additionally, we present statistical data reflecting the daily operations of the HIS, aligning with the evolution of the pandemic and the various interventions undertaken by local health authorities. Through this work, we aim to share our experiences and insights, serving as a valuable reference for other countries and states seeking to establish robust information systems for managing pandemics.