New WHO technical package to help countries improve health data in response to COVID-19 and beyond

Today, it is part of his commitment to strengthening health information systems and improving health[1], especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO has announced a new approach to improving access to life-saving data: SCORE for health technical package. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for timely and reliable data to launch strategic health actions. Too many countries still lack the infrastructure for routine health data collection and the analytical capacity to use that data for effective health actions and emergency care.

“Countries need to be able to measure progress to make progress,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Especially during COVID-19, reliable data is the best way to coordinate response activities and improve health in all areas.”

Accurate health data is necessary to understand a country’s specific needs to improve health and save lives. Data also helps direct scarce resources to where we need them most.

The result (Survey, counting, optimizing, reviewing, enabling) The technical package seeks to improve the availability of timely, reliable, validated and comparable health data. For the first time in a single, harmonized package, it presents all the key elements for the optimized operation of the health information system. Simply put, SCORE will help governments around the world set benchmarks and improve healthcare standards.

In response to the data availability challenges highlighted in the World Health Organization report 2020, SCORE includes more than 90 universally accepted tools and standards for strengthening health information systems. “Using data to inform public health priorities and strategies has never been more important,” said Dr. Kelly Henning, director of public health programs at Bloomberg Philanthropy.[2], “The SCORE technical package provides governments around the world with quality, basic technical guidance so that countries can strengthen their own data systems.” The WHO is proud to work with the Bloomberg Health Data Initiative to provide this timely resource to countries.

Below are a few examples of how SCORE can improve individual lives and communities:

• The birth of a child is registered in order to be able to access basic health services, attend school and apply for a passport;
• Death is recorded with the exact cause of death taken so that policymakers have a better understanding of all-cause mortality and COVID and associated risk factors, and implement life-saving programs and policies;
• Health data are disaggregated by age, gender, and cause of death to show the root causes of health inequalities and help direct resources to the most vulnerable groups such as those who do not speak the local language or face stigma and discrimination in their community;
• Healthcare facilities have the ability to regularly measure the quality of their services, workforce and patient data and can make a compelling case of increased funding from national and international stakeholders;
• Health data is integrated with other sectors so that social health factors such as pollution, sanitation and food are addressed to reduce the overall burden of disease.

The initial edition of the package includes two documents:

• Essential interventions – including an overview of health information systems, basic elements and indicators to assess progress in samples; and
• SCORE Tools and Standards – including resources to address critical health data gaps and strengthen country health data.

“We need to keep the result to save lives. WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to rapidly increase data collection and use capacity to improve policy and performance,” added Dr. Samira Asma, Assistant Director General for Data, Analytics. and delivery of performance at WHO. “We must now work to invest in the statistical systems in the countries, respond to this pandemic and meet the sustainable development goals and the three billion billion goals. Our window of opportunity closes and we can’t wait to address the data gaps. Using data to address countries’ needs must be a priority today. “

Disaggregated state-owned data will be key to a more advanced and sustainable health system. COVID-19 is both a wake-up call and a great reminder of the challenges we still have to address. But it is also an opportunity to build a better return through solidarity, information exchange and cooperation.

SCORE is one example of how a collaborative approach can benefit countries by offering a common set of tools based on common standards. This package is designed to be practical, efficient and flexible. We will only be successful in the fight against COVID-19 if we work together.

Future components of the SCORE technical package should be released later this year, including the SCORE assessment instrument and global, regional and national status reports. Together, they will provide a comprehensive package of information to plan and monitor progress in line with national and subnational priorities as well as global goals.