WHO Collaborating Center for Public Health Informatics

As a WHO Collaborating Center (WHO-CC) for Public Health Informatics, Global Public Health Informatics Program (GPHIP) has been designated to assist countries in meeting a range of global health goals and objectives. The program is focused on applying effective Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Public Health Informatics (PHI) to global health information systems.

GPHIP collaborates with two organizational units at WHO: Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR)/ International Health Regulations (IHR) Coordination Programme and the Department of Health Statistics and Informatics (HSI). As a WHO-CC, GPHIP helps ensure that countries use the proper application of information and communication technologies (ICT) and Public Health Informatics in their health information systems with the following goals:

• Provide informatics support to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
• Contribute skills and expertise to a global team supported by a roster of internal and external public health informatics experts.
• Contribute to global informatics partnerships, standards, and architecture.
• Provide country or sub-country level information system development and evaluation support.
• Contribute to the development of a global health grid that will allow collaborative development and sharing of data, services, and tools.
• Develop, provide, and implement solutions appropriate to specific settings.
• Contribute to global informatics’ capacity development through provision of short- and long-term technical assistance and training.
• Provide scientific exchange and learning forums that foster best practices and that address both the effectiveness and efficiency of public health practice, information systems, and tools.

Areas of focus:

• Public Health Informatics standards
• National health systems strengthening
• Health statistics, measurement & trend assessment
• Communicable diseases other than those specifically mentioned
• Informatics and Telemedicine