UDSM DHIS2 Lab

What UDSM DHIS2 Lab does

UDSM DHIS2 Lab is an academic research unit within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam's College of Information and Communication Technologies, established around 2002 with initial support from the University of Oslo. For over 20 years it has functioned as the technical arm of the Tanzanian government, designing, developing, customizing, and implementing DHIS2 and OpenMRS-based open-source digital health solutions for the Ministry of Health (Mainland and Zanzibar), other ministries, and international implementing partners. The lab's core products include iCareConnect+ (an OpenMRS-based EMR with DHIS2 interoperability), MiLIS/iCareLIS (a Laboratory Information System with instrument interfacing for the National Public Health Laboratory), iAdapter (an EMR-to-DHIS2 interoperability layer), and eIDSR (an AI-assisted disease surveillance platform with USSD, Android, and web interfaces), supplemented by a broad portfolio of disease- and program-specific modules covering TB, malaria, cancer, nutrition, ECD, and HRHIS. A "Living Lab" at UDSM Hospital enables real-world co-development with clinicians and supports a student engagement program via the DHIS2 Club.

The lab's business model is non-commercial and grant-funded: it operates as an academic research unit whose "revenue" consists of allocations from the University of Dar es Salaam, project funding from international donors (The Global Fund, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CDC), and contracts with implementing partners (WHO, UNICEF, Swiss TPH, PATH, PSI, Jhpiego, JSI, GIZ) and the Government of Tanzania. Services are delivered as technical support, system customization, training, and capacity building rather than as priced SaaS or licensing. Distribution is direct to government ministries and through partner-led deployment; go-to-market is relationship-led and project-based, with visibility generated through scientific conferences, publications, and active social media rather than traditional commercial marketing. There is no public pricing, no commercial sales motion, and no disclosed revenue, ARR, or funding rounds.

Name

UDSM DHIS2 Lab

Legal name

UDSM DHIS2 Lab

Website

https://dhis2.udsm.ac.tz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UDSM DHIS2 Lab is an academic research unit at the University of Dar es Salaam that designs, develops, and implements open-source DHIS2 and OpenMRS digital health systems for the Tanzanian government, healthcare facilities, and international health partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Information Systems

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Lab Data Exchange & Interoperability (HL7/FHIR/LDT Results Delivery) (HLACAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

HRIS/HCM Implementation & EOR Platform Services (BPACAHAJ), Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) & Farm ERPs (AFAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Digital health systems
• Health information platforms
• Open source DHIS2
• Electronic medical records
• Disease surveillance software

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar es Salaam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Project Funding: The lab operates as a non-profit academic research unit under the University of Dar es Salaam. Funding comes from government allocations, international donor funding, and research grants. Services are provided as technical support to ministries and implementing partners rather than commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UDSM DHIS2 Lab designs, develops, customizes and implements open-source digital health solutions built on DHIS2 and OpenMRS for Tanzanian government ministries and implementing partners. Its core products include iCareConnect+ (a web-based EMR), MiLIS (a machine-integrated Laboratory Information System), iAdapter (an EMR-to-DHIS2 interoperability layer) and eIDSR (a USSD/Android/Web disease surveillance platform with AI-driven alert triage), complemented by sector-specific DHIS2 modules for malaria, TB, nutrition, agriculture and other programs.

Product overview

UDSM DHIS2 Lab is a digital health innovation hub at the University of Dar es Salaam that develops and implements open-source digital health solutions. The portfolio centers on DHIS2 as the core platform, supplemented by OpenMRS-based systems. The main products include: iCareConnect+ (web-based EMR built on OpenMRS with DHIS2 integration), MiLIS (Laboratory Information System with machine integration), and iAdapter (EMR-to-DHIS2 interoperability layer). These are complemented by disease surveillance solutions (eIDSR with AI-driven alert triage, Event-Based Surveillance, Outbreak Management System), health program modules (TB, Malaria, Cancer, Nutrition, ECD, HRHIS), and sector-specific systems (Agriculture, Water, Education, Social Welfare). The Living Lab model at UDSM Hospital enables real-world co-development with medical practitioners, students, and faculty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Living Lab: A digital health living lab ecosystem based at UDSM Hospital that provides a sustainable real-life environment to ideate, develop, use, and evaluate digital health solutions.
• DHIS2 Club

Products and services

• iCareConnect+ EMR Web-based Electronic Medical Record application platform for hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, built on OpenMRS with built-in DHIS2 interoperability, NHIF e-claims, GePG payment integration, pharmacy, lab, theatre and reporting modules.
• MiLIS / iCareLIS (Laboratory Information System) Laboratory Information System with machine integration (MiLIS) covering sample reception, registration, testing, results entry and laboratory report generation, with COBAS 6800 instrument interfacing. Used at the National Public Health Laboratory where it has registered over 12,000 samples.
• iAdapter (Interoperability Adapter) Unified interoperability adapter that links EMR systems to DHIS2 with flexible metadata mapping of MTUHA reporting tools to EMR databases, Docker-based deployment and built-in exchange via the Ministry of Health's Health Information Mediator (HIM).
• eIDSR (electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response) Real-time digital platform for disease surveillance, case notification and outbreak response available via USSD, Android and Web, with AI-driven alert triage using Keyword Filtering, Vector Similarity and Large Language Models.
• Event-Based Surveillance Module (e-EBS) Mobile and web-based electronic Event-Based Surveillance system integrated into DHIS2 for real-time reporting, triaging and verification of public health alerts; deployed in 5 districts with 300 trained users and over 5,000 alerts reported.
• Outbreak Management System (OMS) Real-time digital surveillance platform integrated into eIDSR for outbreak management, case notification and rapid response.
• Composite Management Information System (CMIS) Comprehensive DHIS2-based management information system platform covering malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTD), mass drug administration (MDA) reporting and other programmes.
• MVC-MIS (Mother and Child Health Management Information System) Management information system for mother and child health programmes, including the integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) scorecard dashboard.
• National Health Portal Centralized health data visualization and reporting platform providing national health dashboard access.
• DHIS2 User Support App Customized web application within DHIS2 enabling council-level users (CHMIS-FP) to request assignment or removal of datasets from health facilities, with technical team review and approval, managing around 9,000 health facilities.
• Larval Source Management (LSM) module Module within the Composite Management Information System (CMIS) for malaria vector control and tracking of larval source management activities.
• Malaria Case-Based Surveillance (mCBS) Electronic platform for malaria immediate case notification integrated with the eIDSR system, providing alerts/notifications and feedback for aggregated weekly and monthly malaria data.
• DHIS2 Electronic TB and Leprosy System Electronic DHIS2-based system for TB and leprosy case tracking and reporting.
• Community TB Mobile App DHIS2-integrated mobile application empowering community health workers to support TB case finding and follow-up, bridging the data gap between community and health facilities.
• DCMS Support Digital health data management support services module within the lab's portfolio.
• NMCP Dashboard National Malaria Control Programme dashboard for malaria data visualization and monitoring.
• School Malaria Parasitaemia Survey (SMPS) in CMIS Mobile application within CMIS for school-based malaria parasitological survey data collection with offline capabilities.
• SADC Regional TB Dashboard Regional dashboard for TB data across Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
• SADC Cross Border Referral System (CBRS) Regional cross-border health referral tracking system for SADC countries.
• Nutrition MNIS (Multi-sectoral Nutrition Information System) Integrated nutrition information system connected with DHIS2-HMIS, ARDS Web Portal, NSMIS, iMES and PlanRep for multi-sectoral nutrition indicators.
• ECD Dashboard in MVC-MIS Early Childhood Development scorecard dashboard integrated within the Mother and Child Health Management Information System.
• Agricultural Routine Data System (ARDS) DHIS2-based system for agricultural data collection and monitoring.
• AfyaMsafiri (PoE) System Point of Entry health screening and surveillance system for border health monitoring.
• eRegistry Android App Customized Android application for electronic registry data capture at health facilities.
• Improved Human Resources for Health Information System (HRHIS) HRHIS system for health workforce data management and planning.
• WISN+POA System Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs plus Prioritization and Optimization Analysis System for health workforce planning.
• NTD (Neglected Tropical Diseases) System DHIS2-based system for neglected tropical diseases data management, including MDA reporting.
• TB Prevention Therapy Module in ETL Module for TB prevention therapy data tracking integrated with ETL processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Data reporting rates increased from ~160 to over 200% after DHIS2 integration
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of Oslo - HISP CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner that supported the initial DHIS2 research project. Long-standing collaboration in DHIS2 implementations, innovation, and research in digital health.
• Ministry of Health Tanzania (Mainland and Zanzibar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for national health information system implementations, DHIS2 platform customization, and digital health transformation initiatives.
• MDH (Management and Development for Health)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner for disease surveillance systems including e-EBS development and deployment.
• WHOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on disease surveillance training, epidemic preparedness, and digital health standards. Support for Community Health Worker training on e-EBS/eIDSR reporting.
• UNICEFmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for health information system implementations and digital health initiatives for children and maternal health.
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for e-EBS system design, development, and implementation under CDC funding.
• Swiss TPHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on malaria dashboard review and data analytics strengthening for Tanzania's National Malaria Control Programme.
• PATHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for health system strengthening and digital health implementation projects.
• PSI TanzaniamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for malaria surveillance system UAT in Zanzibar and other health implementation projects.
• Africa CDCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on health information exchange interoperability evaluation and continental digital health initiatives.
• GIZminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for health system strengthening and digital transformation initiatives.
• JSIminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for health information system implementations and supply chain management.
• HISP TanzaniamajorTechnology or IntegrationDHIS2 implementation partner for national health information systems and interoperability projects.
• Government of Tanzania (GOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government stakeholder for all national digital health initiatives and health information system implementations.
• Government of Zanzibar / SMZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Zanzibar health information systems including malaria elimination programme and Zanzibar Health Information Layer.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jembi Health Systems: Jembi is a South Africa-headquartered non-profit that implements open-source health information systems and interoperability across southern and eastern Africa. They share multiple technical and donor partners with UDSM DHIS2 Lab and compete for African HIS implementations.
• OpenMRS: OpenMRS is the open-source EMR platform on which iCareConnect+ is built. The two communities share implementations in Tanzania and globally, compete and collaborate on hospital EMR feature roadmaps.
• HISP Tanzania: HISP Tanzania is the local DHIS2 implementation partner within the same HISP network, working alongside UDSM DHIS2 Lab on Tanzania's national health information systems. Direct overlap on DHIS2 rollouts, interoperability, and Ministry of Health engagements.
• HISP Centre, University of Oslo: HISP Oslo is the founding organization behind DHIS2 and the coordinator of the global HISP Network in which UDSM DHIS2 Lab operates. They share the same DHIS2 platform, ecosystem, and innovation mandate, with frequent co-development and training.

Emerging players

• Bahmni: Bahmni is an open-source hospital information system also built on OpenMRS, focused on clinical workflows and EMR. It competes with iCareConnect+ in low-resource hospital settings and shares the OpenMRS ecosystem.
• Medic: Medic (formerly Medic Mobile) builds open-source community health worker and mHealth data tools (including surveillance) used in low- and middle-income countries. Their CHT platform competes with UDSM DHIS2 Lab's community TB, e-EBS, and eIDSR mobile modules.
• Savics: Savics provides open-source digital health solutions (including DHIS2-based lab and surveillance tools) across Africa and Asia. They directly overlap with UDSM DHIS2 Lab on disease surveillance and laboratory data systems in similar geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Dimagi (CommCare): Dimagi's CommCare is a widely deployed mHealth platform used for frontline data collection, case management, and disease surveillance in global health. They overlap with UDSM DHIS2 Lab in community health and surveillance deployments across Africa.
• IntraHealth International: IntraHealth works on health workforce information systems and digital health (including HRH-related tools) across Africa. They are adjacent peers to UDSM DHIS2 Lab's HRHIS and WISN+POA modules.
• Jhpiego (Johns Hopkins Program for International Education): Jhpiego is a large global health implementation partner working with the Ministry of Health Tanzania and partners on health system strengthening where UDSM DHIS2 Lab provides technical digital health capacity. They overlap as competing/co-implementing partners in-country.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/udsmdhis2lab
• GitHubgithub.com/udsm-dhis2-lab
• Facebookfacebook.com/UDSM-DHIS2-Lab-100861269229700
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/udsmdhis2lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/udsmdhis2lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UDSM DHIS2 Lab