Increasing digitisation of health systems across the world has led to a larger volume of health data being produced and stored. There is a need for improved governance of the collection and use of data to keep pace with innovation and the growing potential for data.

To harness the potential, and manage the risks, of health data sharing within and across borders, countries must work together to develop a set of common regulatory standards for the governance of health data, underpinned by equity and rights-based principles.

Recently at the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Transform Health organised a critical event to discuss the path towards the development of a global health data governance framework. This side-event was co-hosted by the Ministries of Health of Cameroon, India, the Maldives, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

The main objectives of this side-event were:
1. To build support for a global health data governance framework, underpinned by equity and rights-based principles, and the importance of this being developed through an inclusive process.
2. To galvanise commitments and action from governments and other stakeholders to initiate the development of a global framework for endorsement in 2024.

We saw clear political momentum to initiate the development of a global health data governance framework, for endorsement through a resolution at next year’s World Health Assembly. We need to build on this momentum and ensure the development of a framework starts now.

Watch the full event here