1. Health information needs in WHO Europe: survey-based population data
Div. Information, Evidence, Research and Innovation WHO Regional Office for Europe Luxembourg, 28 March 2011

2. Context of the WHO European Region
WHO Europe health information needs
European Health 2020 policy
Define new targets and indicators
Monitoring and evaluate progress
European Social Determinants and Health Review
Assess health inequalities and its determinants
Monitor changes related to policy
Monitoring MDGs
Monitor other Regional Mandates

3. Current data availability at WHO Europe
Regional Databases
European Health for All (HFA) database
European Mortality (M) database
Detailed Mortality (DM) database
Hospital Morbidity (HM) database
Centralized Information System for Infectious Disease
Other health risk factor specific (e.g. tobacco, alcohol, behaviours)
European regional health inequality database (to be released soon)

4. New information needs: population health surveys and data collections supported by WHO
COSI – Children overweight/obesity survey
Targets primary school children
Anthropometric measurements
ENHIS – New set of indicators on environment and health for Parma follow up (IAQS)
pre-school and school children
Exposures to risks (e.g. chemical and biological indoor air pollution, water and sanitation hygienic facilities, smoking)
Physical activity and transportation to school
Children living in homes with problems of damp (from SILC)

5. New information needs: population health surveys and data collections supported by WHO
HBSC – Health behaviour in school survey of adolescent children (11-15 yrs.)
Self-assessed health and wellbeing,
Socioeconomic determinants and family affluence
GYTS - Youth tobacco survey
Adolescents
School-based
SAGE – Survey on ageing
Survey includes s follow up of the WHS 2002
Measurements in a subsample
Alcohol consumption survey

6. Future of health information in Europe
Perspectives
Improved availability of health-related data due to regulatory EU requirements
Increased informatisation of health information facilitating its access and use
Increased availability of health-related information through new and continuous surveys (e.g. EHIS, SILC, LFS, EUbarometer, others)

7. Perspectives for health information in Europe
Challenges
Need to include more disaggregated information than national averages
Need to better integrate health information systems and databases (e.g. through communication platforms)
Need to include or be able to link health information with socioeconomic variables (e.g. using electronic health records)
Confronting increased information access restrictions due to issues of individual confidentiality

8. Current or prospective activities with support or in collaboration of the EC
Eurostat/OECD/WHO Joint data collection
Health evidence network
Prospective
Extension of the tools for policy to address health inequalities project direct grant
Preparation of joint European health assessments
Development of a European health information system