New WHO technical package to help countries improve health data for COVID-19 response and beyond
WHO launched the SCORE Technical Package to help countries strengthen health data systems for COVID-19 response and beyond, addressing gaps highlighted during the pandemic.
The World Health Organization introduced the SCORE for Health Data Technical Package to address persistent gaps in health data systems exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries lack the infrastructure and analytical capacity to collect and use health data effectively for decision-making and emergency response. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that reliable data is essential for coordinated health actions and progress measurement.
The SCORE package consolidates over 90 tools and standards to improve health information systems, responding to findings from the WHO World Health Statistics 2020 report. It provides governments with harmonized guidance to set benchmarks and enhance healthcare standards through a unified approach. The initiative aims to make health data more timely, reliable, validated, and comparable across countries.
WHO partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies to deliver the SCORE package, which offers technical guidance to strengthen national data systems. Dr Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies noted the critical role of data in informing public health priorities and strategies during the pandemic. The collaboration underscores the importance of high-quality technical support for countries to improve their health data capabilities.
Future components of the SCORE package, including an assessment instrument and status reports, will be released later this year. These tools will enable countries to monitor progress against national and global health targets. The initiative reflects a collective effort to build resilient health systems and address data gaps highlighted by the pandemic.