Barriers and Opportunities in Developing Health Information System (HIS) Architectures to Support Universal Health Coverage in Resource-Limited Settings

Health Information Systems (HIS) are critical for effective healthcare delivery, especially in resource-limited settings, where access to quality care is challenging. HIS supports Universal Health Coverage (UHC) delivery by managing health data efficiently and aligning national health policies with organisational needs for a more patient-centred approach. This paper explores the barriers and opportunities in developing robust HIS software architectures in such healthcare settings. Key barriers include unreliable infrastructure, insufficient technical support, poor data quality, and financial constraints. However, opportunities for improvement exist, such as adopting interoperable systems, open-source standards, cloud-based solutions, modular upgrades, and capacity-building initiatives. Involving key stakeholders and developing strong policy frameworks are also essential. Future research should focus on improving global interoperability, data quality, sustainability, and scalability to ensure HIS can support UHC goals in resource-limited environments.