ECHIM Final Report

in the early 19th century, social and health statistics are nowadays compiled in every
European country and used for the respective reporting systems (health reporting, social
and welfare reporting, etc.). This historical development implies that national systems
for data gathering and data analysis have to be seen in the context of their specific
national requirements. As a consequence most of the information collected on health
care systems and health care has not been comparable across European countries.
The first efforts to harmonise such information were initiated by international organisations
like the World Health Organisation (WHO) that had been active in the field of health
information for decades. In addition, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development has established an indicator database (OECD Health Data) that provides
similar and complementary data for the 30 OECD Member Countries. Last but not least,
DG Eurostat of the European Commission has gradually expanded its offer in the area of
population and public health statistics. The different databases and some aspects regarding
the hosting organisations are described in Chapter 2.3.
2.2. Health information systems in Member States
A Health Information System can be defined as a dynamic and flexible infrastructure
for monitoring health activities and population health outcomes that is active at the
national or sub-national level. The system encompasses the collection, analysis, storage,
transmission, display, dissemination and further utilisation of data and information. It
covers a wide range of information relevant to different user groups. On the one hand,
health information systems contain an enormous amount of medical information for
individuals who want to learn about diseases, diagnostics and treatments. On the other
hand, they also provide information related to public health issues for the interested
public and stakeholders. The goal of these systems is to allow all professional and lay
users within and outside the health sector to use, interpret and share information in
order to transform it into knowledge 5 .
In the following the term Health Information System is used to describe information
systems that serve the different needs of users in the field of public health and health
policy making. In this context the separation of the public health sector, on the one hand,
and the health care sector, on the other, often led to the creation of information systems
for specific sectors, before comprehensive and integrative systems could be developed.
An important issue in this respect has been the surveillance of infectious diseases, which
has long been one of the basic elements of national public health surveillance.
5
Gissler M, Dumitrescu A, Addor V: Improving the performance of National Health Information Systems:
the 2002–2003 reform in Finland from an international perspective. WHO 2005.
EUR/05/5046412. Available at www.euro.who.int/Document/E88075.pdf
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