Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) is a health cluster standardized approach supported by a software-based platform that aims at strengthening the collection, collation, and analysis of information on the availability of health resources and services in the humanitarian context. It aims to address the needs/gaps expressed by the health cluster on coordination and management by providing timely, relevant, and reliable information.

HeRAMS provides a tool for assessing, monitoring, and processing a comprehensive set of available data collected at the health facility level. It covers; the geographical location of the HF, demographic data on catchment area, type, functionality, building type, inpatient capacity, managing, and supporting partners, health personnel, access and security, and health services provided at different levels of healthcare. This report provides a summary of the analysis of the available health resources and services in northern Syria in the areas covered by Türkiye hub health cluster partners.

The report is produced with the data provided mainly by Türkiye hub health cluster members and partners, which includes national and international non-governmental organizations.

Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) is a health cluster standardized approach supported by a software-based platform that aims at strengthening the collection, collation, and analysis of information on the availability of health resources and services in the humanitarian context. It aims to address the needs/gaps expressed by the health cluster on coordination and management by providing timely, relevant, and reliable information.

HeRAMS provides a tool for assessing, monitoring, and processing a comprehensive set of available data collected at the health facility level. It covers; the geographical location of the HF, demographic data on catchment area, type, functionality, building type, inpatient capacity, managing, and supporting partners, health personnel, access and security, and health services provided at different levels of healthcare.

This report provides a summary of the analysis of the available health resources and services in northern Syria in the areas covered by Türkiye hub health cluster partners. The report is produced with the data provided mainly by Türkiye hub health cluster members and partners, which includes national and international non-governmental organizations.

Third-party materials. If you wish to reuse material from this work that is attributed to a third party, such as tables, figures, or images, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that reuse and to obtain permission from the copyright holder. The risk of claims resulting from infringement of any third-party-owned component in work rests solely with the user.

General disclaimers. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted; the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use period.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

With ongoing waves of displacement from Syria and a precarious economic situation for many Lebanese communities, the humanitarian response has increasingly necessitated effectively coordinated service delivery to ensure targeted and continuous support to individuals in need. The referral process plays a key role within this response, in that effective and accountable referral pathways are fundamental to adequately and comprehensively deliver services to vulnerable populations.

Despite the recognition that strengthening cross-sector referral systems improves service coordination and accountability, there still remain gaps in facilitating cross-sector referrals and establishing a unified and institutionalised technical system and process for making and understanding referrals.

Thus, the Referral Information Management System (RIMS) was created by DRC in 2016 to enable organisations in Lebanon to coordinate and manage referrals across sectors. RIMS not only seeks to improve coordination between humanitarian actors and sectors by providing a common platform to facilitate, manage, and follow up on referrals, but it also aims to generate evidence on referrals and the environment that influences them. The examination of RIMS data can provide high quality analysis on the effectiveness of referrals and gaps and bottlenecks within service provision, as well as evidence-based recommendations on improving referral management and accountability.

To assess the effectiveness of referral pathways, RIMS data from March to June 2019 has been analysed to better comprehend the factors that influence cross-sector referrals using speed, timeliness, and accuracy as indicators.

This report has been developed by the RIMS team and complements RIMS Snapshots produced every four months demonstrating trends in referrals. Another analytical report will be published in November 2019 to build upon key findings found in referral data and continue to provide evidence-based recommendations to inform referral management and effectiveness.

Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations