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

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a new technical package aimed at enhancing health data collection and utilization globally, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SCORE for Health Data Technical Package, which stands for Survey, Count, Optimize, Review, Enable, seeks to bolster the capacity for timely, reliable, validated, and comparable health data across countries.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the critical role of accurate data in strategic health actions, stating that "countries must be able to measure progress to make progress." The pandemic has underscored the dire need for reliable data, which is instrumental in coordinating response efforts and improving health outcomes.

SCORE, a harmonized package comprising over 90 universally-accepted tools and standards, is poised to optimize health information system performance. It aims to provide a benchmark for countries to strengthen their data systems and address critical health data gaps. The initial release of the package includes two key documents: SCORE Essential Interventions, outlining the necessary elements for an effective health information system and sample actions for progress, and SCORE Tools and Standards, offering resources to rectify data gaps and strengthen health data capabilities.

The implications of the SCORE package are far-reaching. For instance, the registration of births ensures access to essential healthcare services, schooling, and passport applications. Similarly, accurate registration of deaths, with detailed cause-of-death information, enables policy-makers to discern mortality patterns, including COVID-specific causes, and implement targeted interventions.

Health data disaggregation by age, sex, and cause of death helps unveil health disparities and allocate resources effectively to vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, the package advocates for robust health facilities capable of measuring service quality, workforce performance, and patient data, thereby advocating for increased funding from national and international stakeholders. Health data integration across sectors, addressing social determinants such as pollution, sanitation, and nutrition, is also encouraged to curtail the overall disease burden.

The rollout of the SCORE Technical Package is complemented by an initial assessment instrument and global, regional, and country status reports, promising a comprehensive suite of tools to monitor progress against national and subnational priorities, as well as global targets. The WHO remains committed to partnering with countries and allies to scale up data collection and utilization capabilities, thus paving the way for resilient, sustainable health systems.