Writing in the medical journal PloS Medicine, the leaders of eight leading global health agencies agree that it is critical to strengthen the collection, analysis, synthesis, validation, and use of health data in countries. This would “enable countries to better monitor and evaluate their own progress and performance and, secondarily, allow them to respond to the increased emphasis on results and accountability”

The authors note that “Many developing countries have limitations that hamper the production of data of sufficient quality and timeliness to permit regular tracking of progress made in scaling up and strengthening health systems. Data gaps span across the range of input, output, outcome, and impact indicators. New ways of working and a more systematic approach by all partners are needed to better monitor and evaluate progress and performance." To improve data availability, quality and use, the authors recommend that each of the data sources at country level (i.e. household surveys, birth and death registration, census, health facility reporting systems including surveillance systems, and administrative data) should "be strengthened according to international principles and standards". In this process, strengthening country capacity in collecting, processing, analysing, and using health data is essential.

Source: Chan M et al. PLoS Med 2010;7(1):e1000223.doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000223