The National Indicator Set (NIDS) is a minimum group of indicators introduced by the National Department of Health that every public health facility and non-facility health service is required to collect, use and report on. Services are required to report only on indicators according to their service package. The information collated through the NIDS is used to monitor and track progress with implementation of national policies and guidelines, priority health programmes and achievement of national strategic goals and objectives. The NIDS will help the Department of Health to identify needs in the healthcare systems and provide managers at all levels with information to guide programme development and budgeting, provide support to improve the healthcare system, and demonstrate national commitment to globally accepted measures of care.
The District Health Management Information System (DHMIS) Policy (2011) requires that the NIDS be revised every two years. The last review was done in 2020 and will be effective until March 2023.

There are special cases, i.e. policy pronouncements, which will require the Department to make additions or subtractions to the NIDS. In these cases, and official document signed by the Director-General of Health will be sent to all provinces for implementation.

The quality of the data collected is vital to ensure that planning, distribution of funds, equipment and personnel match the needs of the communities served by the facility or non-facility service.