Issues in health information

Improving the use of information for health care decision-making: what is needed
World Health Organization / World Health Organization (WHO) (2005)

This paper, published by the World Health Organization, describes how health information systems work and considers how countries can reform them. It argues that some types of data are oversupplied whilst in other areas there are large unmet needs of information. Although many countries now have relatively good data on levels of (and trends in) child mortality, health services coverage, and health determinants, information on adult mortality and cause of death is not generally available. Other areas where better information is needed include: morbidity; coverage and costs of interventions; and equity. The use of information to inform decision- making is also weak at all levels of the healthcare system.
The paper calls for investment in sustainable national and sub-national health information systems and argues that countries will benefit greatly if such systems are based upon a national plan with a policy framework; core indicators; and data-collection, analysis and dissemination strategies. It also calls for national bodies to guide and oversee the implementation of the plan,
with full participation of stakeholders, users, and technical experts. International investors in health information should buy in to and support the country strategies. Collaborative efforts at the international level, such as the recently launched Health Metrics Network, are also important.

Available online at: http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/library/issue_1_05apr.doc