Introduction The primary focus of health informatics (HI) is to improve the quality of health care with a key focus on evidence- based practice. Infor- matics deal with the collection, manipulation, storage, retrieval and classification of digital information to deliver healthcare and promote health. 1 It has been defined as “the systematic application of information and computer sci- ence and technology healthcare practice, re- search, and learning of the health care profes- sionals”. 2 Informatics applications in healthcare are used for informed decision-making, evi- dence-based practice, and efficient resource management. 3 As informatics is prevailing with a great pace across the health sector globally, trained professionals are needed to utilize and implement health informatics tools to get maxi- mum benefits. Computers and mobile devices like physicians’ digital assistant, and computer- ized physician order entry system are common- ly in use nowadays and are therefore an es- sential part of the health informatics domain. 4 Health informatics is an interdisciplinary field, as it lies at the intersection of three domains which are knowledge from medical areas, healthcare administration and information tech- nology. Medical informatics, biomedical infor- matics, biomedical health informatics, public health and informatics are different terms which are used interchangeably with health informatics. 5 Health informatics has greatly improved the quality of healthcare-related services in both Health informatics in Pakistan: Current scenario in capacity development for health professionals Correspondence Ramesh Kumar, Department of Health Systems & Policy, Health Services Academy, Government of Pakistan, Chak Shahzad, Park Road, Opposite NIH, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan E-mail: ramesh@hsa.edu.pk Keywords: Health informatics, Capacity building, Education, Health workers, Health system Funding None Competing Interest None Received: September 29, 2013 Accepted: October 22, 2013 Abstract ISSN (print): 2218-3299 ISSN (online): 2219-8083 Research Article 62 | theHealth | Volume 4 | Issue 4 Anwar F 1 , Kumar R 2 , Sulaiman S 1 , Dominic DDP 1 1 University Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia, 2 Health Services Academy, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan theHealth 2013; 4(4): 62-65 Background: Health informatics benefit health care by improving healthcare provision, preventing disease, and improving social infrastructure. Health professionals of Pakistan will be benefitted with the use of information technology and applications for the advancement of knowledge in the health care sector. Without the support of a competent workforce, HIT (spell out) deployment is not possible. A competent workforce is a basic requirement for successful implementation and use of information technology. The health sector is very unique, as health informaticians need knowledge of information technology (IT), health, management and other disciplines concurrently. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Pakistan. Sample size was universal including all the institutions which were offering graduate or post-graduate programs in health informatics, which were accessed through their web site. A validated structured questionnaire was used to collect data from April to October 2012. Ethical considerations were taken before conducting the study. Results: Eighty-one degree awarding institutes are registered with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and out of them only 1% institute offer degrees in the health informatics domain. In these institutes, only two programs fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Only one Master of Science (MS) degree awarding institute and same number of Bachelor of Science (BS) degree awarding institutes in health informatics were identified. None of the institutes in Pakistan are offering a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in the health informatics domain. Conclusions: Our study documented a relatively low number of institutions offering the capacity building in Health Informatics in Pakistan which reflects the lack of availability of trained health professionals. Considering the factors responsible for this state of affairs, urgent and concrete strategies must be developed to address the concerns of academic institutions as they represent a highly sensitive domain of health systems of Pakistan. Improving the overall health informatics, review of institutional capacity and promotion of health informatics education might bring about a positive numbers in health workers.