New Global Partnership will Focus on Strengthening Health Information Systems to Better Address Health Needs Worldwide

GENEVA -- A new global partnership that will work to improve public health decision-making through better health information was launched today at the World Health Assembly. The Health Metrics Network (HMN) will work to improve health and save lives by strengthening and aligning health information systems around the world. It is founded on the premise that better health information will lead to better decisions that improve health.

The partnership is comprised of countries, multilateral and bilateral development agencies, foundations, global health initiatives and technical experts that will increase the availability and use of timely, reliable health information by catalyzing the funding and development of core health information systems in developing countries.  

Today, despite the efforts of many country, regional, and global partners, there are significant gaps in the health information that is available to policy-makers and health practitioners.

“In some areas of the world, even basic facts such as a person's birth, their death and cause of death are not recorded," said Dr. LEE Jong-wook, Director-General of the World Health Organization. "The Health Metrics Network will work to close this gap by helping countries improve their ability to gather vital health information. Accurate data is critical to identifying problems and implementing effective solutions for people's health.” 

HMN brings together health and statistical constituencies to build capacity and expertise for strengthening health information systems so local, regional, and global decision-makers have quality data on which to base decisions to improve health.

To read the full press release, visit the WHO web site.