INDICATORS

) Dissemination of knowledge about ECHI and the use of ECHI indicators
The ECHI frame and associated indicators provide a common conceptual structure for
public health information both at EU and country level. This means that one of the best
ways of promoting the use of the ECHI shortlist indicators is through their integration
into national health information systems and to ensure that they are accessible via this
system. People seeking comparable health indicators for Europe should be able to easily
access ECHI indicators via their national health information portals and websites. In
other words, Member States should benefit from indicators based on their own data
and on European level indicators. This will require a permanent structure for analysis,
interpretation, reporting and dissemination at EU level.
The DG SANCO data display software that is currently being developed to house ECHI
data will need to be quick and easy to use. The data will need to be as complete, reliable
and as up-to-date as possible. The provision of time series whenever possible would also
help to promote the use of the indicators for policy purposes since it is often necessary to
monitor trends and to set targets. Careful planning and assessment is therefore needed
to find the best way in which to disseminate the ECHI indicators via the DG SANCO
website. The end product should be a quick, reliable and user-friendly website or portal.
It is essential to work closely with Eurostat, and in relation to Eurostat actions, to build
up a sustainable system on how to regularly retrieve data from Eurostat database and
update the data for ECHI indicators. One example of such an effort is provided by the
EUPHIX website (see Chapter 3.1.)
c) Main prerequisites for implementation
One of the conclusions reached in practically all of the discussions was that successful
implementation will require political support from the highest level in government and
ministries. However, all the participants were confident that it is possible to create an
implementation plan in their countries, provided that a functioning network can be
established for implementation.
It was stressed that it is essential to know what kind of EU-level health information
system will be in place in the future to ensure the continuity of EU level data collection
and dissemination. The stability and sustainability of the system was also stressed:
revisions and amendments to the ECHI shortlist should not be made too often.
EU funding for Member States would greatly facilitate implementation. Another
common theme raised in the discussions was the need for more detailed descriptions of
operational definition, calculation, recommended data sources and detailed guidelines
(i.e. Documentation Sheets: Chapter 3.6., Annex 2). It is expected that steps are taken
to improve harmonisation and the quality of the current shortlist indicators.
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