The World Health Organization has introduced the SCORE for Health Data Technical Package, a collection of guidance and resources intended to help countries improve the availability and use of timely, reliable and comparable health data. The initiative responds to gaps in the infrastructure and analytical capacity needed to support health services and emergency responses, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SCORE stands for Survey, Count, Optimize, Review and Enable. The WHO says the package brings key elements for strengthening health information systems together in one harmonized resource, helping governments set benchmarks and improve standards. It contains more than 90 tools and standards described as universally accepted.
Reliable health information can help governments understand national needs and direct limited resources where they are most needed, the WHO said. Examples include registering births so children can access services, recording causes of death to guide policy, and breaking down data by age, sex and cause of death to identify disparities and support vulnerable groups. The package also covers measuring health facility performance and connecting health information with other sectors, including sanitation, nutrition and pollution.
The initial release consists of two documents: SCORE Essential Interventions, which outlines health information systems and indicators for tracking progress, and SCORE Tools and Standards, which provides resources to address data gaps and strengthen national systems. The WHO developed the package in partnership with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative, which provided funding.
The WHO said future components were planned to include an assessment instrument and global, regional and country status reports. Together, these resources are intended to help countries plan and monitor progress against national and local priorities, as well as global targets.
Sources: WHO News.