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9.4 HiT methodology and production process
HiTs are produced by country experts in collaboration with the Observatory’s
research directors and staff. They are based on a template that, revised
periodically, provides detailed guidelines and specific questions, definitions,
suggestions for data sources and examples needed to compile reviews. While
the template offers a comprehensive set of questions, it is intended to be used in
a flexible way to allow authors and editors to adapt it to their particular national
context. The most recent template is available online at: http://www.euro.who.
int/en/home/projects/observatory/publications/health-system-profiles-hits/
hit-template-2010.
Authors draw on multiple data sources for the compilation of HiTs, ranging
from national statistics, national and regional policy documents to published
literature. Furthermore, international data sources may be incorporated, such as
those of the OECD and the World Bank. The OECD Health Data contain over
1200 indicators for the 34 OECD countries. Data are drawn from information
collected by national statistical bureaux and health ministries. The World Bank
provides World Development Indicators, which also rely on official sources.
In addition to the information and data provided by the country experts,
the Observatory supplies quantitative data in the form of a set of standard
comparative figures for each country, drawing on the European Health for All
database. The Health for All database contains more than 600 indicators defined
by the WHO Regional Office for Europe for the purpose of monitoring Health
in All policies in Europe. It is updated for distribution twice a year from various
sources, relying largely upon official figures provided by governments, as well
as health statistics collected by the technical units of the WHO Regional Office
for Europe. The standard Health for All data have been officially approved
by national governments. With its summer 2007 edition, the Health for All
database started to take account of the enlarged EU of 27 Member States.
HiT authors are encouraged to discuss the data in the text in detail, including
the standard figures prepared by the Observatory staff, especially if there are
concerns about discrepancies between the data available from different sources.
A typical HiT consists of nine chapters.
1. Introduction: outlines the broader context of the health system, including
geography and sociodemography, economic and political context, and
population health.