Introduction : The effective control of communicable diseases relies on robust surveillance systems that facilitate timely identification and prompt response to public health threats. The Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP-IDSP) was introduced in 2021 as an extension of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), which was started in 2004 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. In order to improve disease monitoring and outbreak preparedness, this digital platform prioritizes real-time data reporting and geotagging with an emphasis on improved analytics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance trends of IHIP-IDSP surveillance units across the districts of Tamil Nadu from January 2022 to December 2024.
Methods : A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using district-wise secondary data extracted from the IHIP-IDSP portal, with official permission from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Tamil Nadu. Timely reporting of syndromic, presumed, and laboratory-confirmed cases; outbreak response; urban mapping; and coverage of health facilities were among the key performance indicators. Using IBM SPSS Version 21, data were analyzed, and descriptive statistics and graphical representations were used to present the results.
RESULTS: Most districts showed an overall upward trend in performance, with the biggest improvements occurring in Tiruppur (35.92), Sivagangai (25.95), and Madurai (25.38). The performance of Tuticorin (-7.15), Kallakurichi (-5.15), and Cuddalore (-3.67) decreased, on the other hand. In performance dashboards, Ariyalur and Kalakurichi showed remarkable total scores, while Dharmapuri reported the highest cumulative performance score (74.22). The timely reporting and outbreak response categories showed the most improvement, indicating improved operational effectiveness and training efficacy in a number of districts.
CONCLUSION: The results highlight how the incorporation of digital platforms and improved data reporting mechanisms has led to the public health surveillance system in Tamil Nadu developing its capacity. To maintain and increase the gains made, district-by-district performance variances underscore the necessity of specialised interventions, regular training, recurring assessments, and localized policy support. In addition to adding to the larger conversation on digital health governance in India, the study offers state and national stakeholders in public health planning a useful resource.